Editorial: A Final Message from Board CXLVI
By Roxane Park, Joonyoung Heo, and Amy Lin
(146th Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and Director of Writing)
on behalf of the 146th Board of The Exonian
The 146th Board (front row) and writers for The Exonian, as of Fall 2024.
Amélie Hespel / The Exonian
Dear Readers,
In our first issue on January 25, 2024, we told you all that “we are excited to discover what this next year will hold, as we strive to illuminate every voice on the Academy’s campus and carry on a 145-year legacy of student dedication to sincere, relevant, accurate, and inclusive journalism.” Now, as our tenure comes to an end, the 146th Board is sad to leave but proud of the work we, our writers, and our editors have done in the past year to fulfill this promise.
Every year, The Exonian is tasked with reporting and commenting on things that happen both worldwide and on campus. In 2024, we encountered many difficult conversations—the resignation of alumna Claudine Gay, the controversial cancellation of an MLK Day workshop, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the presidential election. At the same time, we celebrated natural phenomena—two Aurora borealis sightings and a near-total eclipse in April—and such timeless Exeter traditions as the Student Council debate and election, our E/a rivalry, and our school dances.
Alongside the demands of publication for each issue, we focused on achieving our long-term visions for the paper and improving it in a way that will last beyond our time at Exeter.
Club features were among the first new initiatives under our board. We now publish articles highlighting one academic, one arts, and one affinity club every week in the Life section. We intended to reach and spotlight a more diverse group of community members, and in the year since, we’ve managed to cover more than 35 clubs.
In April, we brought 23 writers to participate in the Crimson Journalism Summit completely free of charge, engaging in a series of workshops and seminars led by editors of the Harvard Crimson. We had the opportunity to meet and receive training from professional journalists who work for such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
In May, we transitioned back to weekly publication after two years of a biweekly schedule, which allowed us to increase the volume and timeliness of our reporting, as well as re-establish The Exonian as a consistent voice on campus. The Sports section is now able to cover the wins and losses of our Big Red teams in every sport for every game. With the help of the Business Board, we increased our circulation by 25 percent and expanded distribution of our papers past the stands across campus and into shops in town.
In late October, we launched The Exonian’s first YouTube channel and look forward to seeing the next board’s visions come to life. In the following few months, you will also see our new website published, coded from scratch by our talented Chief Digital Editors Byran Huang and Eric Li.
But what we are most proud of is the impact we’ve made in The Exonian—not simply as a publication, but as a community and a family. In just one year, we tripled our editorial staff and significantly increased membership of the Business and Web Boards as well. In the fall, we created a mentorship program to pair prospective new students with experienced writers and recruited more than 40 new members. Every Sunday at 7 p.m., we saw new faces enter the Forum. We’ve had the honor of meeting and mentoring dozens of underclassmen and are proud of the work that they have all accomplished. They have grown not only as writers and reporters, but also members of the Exeter community.
We trust that the 147th Board will continue to strive toward our goal to be worthy advocates of Exonians across campus and around the world, continuing a now 146-year legacy to sincere, relevant, accurate, and inclusive journalism.
Readers, we thank you all for your support in 2024. The Exonian is driven by your interest and commitment to keeping up with Academy news and the perspectives which comprise and represent our community. We encourage any current students to join the paper and challenge yourselves to make new connections, craft stories, and make your voices heard. Whether you’ve loved journalism for years or you’re just interested in meeting new people, The Exonian will have a place for you.
To our Exonian family, we’ll miss working with you all in the newsroom, but we are excited to see what you and the new board accomplish in the next year. We’ll be watching and cheering you on from the sidelines. You’ll definitely spot Joonyoung trotting to Agora to pick up that issue every Thursday morning. Best of luck and all of our love. You guys better keep in touch.
