The role of the Trinitonian

As Trinity’s sole independent student-run newspaper since 1912, the Trinitonian serves as a link between community members across campus and beyond. We report on prominent aspects of the student experience, highlight student stories and serve as a forum for student and community discussion and debate. With a staff of over 40 writers, editors and artists, we strive to communicate Trinity’s story and people to readers, both present and future.

Previous community surveys have shown that a significant number of respondents consider the Trinitonian to be a one-sided publication; a voice not for all, but only some. We keep these criticisms in mind with every issue we plan and every story we publish. Our past as a publication is one upon which we can look back and reflect, to draw lessons from the good and the bad. This practice is something we do with every article printed, with the goal of being a professional news source that represents the experiences and interests of our Trinity community. We take pride in the reporting we do and in the fact that we always strive to do better.

The surveys done last academic year were certainly not the last. More feedback is to be solicited in the coming months as we gear up for another semester of work and prepare for the 2022 year. We hope that you take the time to let us know your thoughts, regardless of whether they’re good, bad or neutral.

In order for the Trinitonian to be a paper that’s representative of the campus population — students, faculty, staff, alumni and others all included — we ask that you make your voice heard. Whether that be through survey responses, over email or via comments on our website, we read and take all of the feedback we receive to heart.

We are not perfect, nor have we ever claimed to be. As a student-run paper, everything from the brainstorming of stories to the creation of each print page to the distribution of papers on Thursday evenings is done by students. We, as a whole staff, choose what goes in our paper. Ideas for content don’t come out of thin air — they’re introduced by staff members across positions, columnists choosing their own topics and editors selecting stories to report on based on staff suggestions.

As journalists, we keep an ear to the ground and aim to listen, trying to capture each footstep, each cheer at sports games, each time the red bricks tremble with campus transformation. If there is something you feel is missing in the paper — a person, an event, a voice — we are here to listen, to grow and to change. The paper is made by students and for all those who call Trinity home, regardless of if they are in the newsroom.