141st Board Sets Goals for Tenure

Executive Board

Freedom of the press, like all freedoms in a democracy, is more fragile than we think. It is never a given; it must be fought for, always, through the constant strife of journalists and editors working with diligence and integrity.

The Exonian is currently at a turning point––in the past year, we’ve established our willingness to publish hard news while honoring the community’s right to know. We’re proud to have redefined what a school newspaper is and what it is able to do with our breaking-news journalism and in-depth investigations. But we’ve also made mistakes. 

Freedom of the press, like all freedoms in a democracy, is more fragile than we think. It is never a given; it must be fought for, always, through the constant strife of journalists and editors working with diligence and integrity.

In the real world of journalism, when the press errs, the people remember. The last month of 2018 saw “Spiegelgate,” the firing of journalist Claas Relotius by Germany’s most reputable magazine, Der Spiegel, over charges of fabricating upwards of fourteen articles. For allegedly misquoting then-President Tran Dai Quang, Vietnam’s largest state-owned media was fined a debilitating $10,000, had its website forcibly shut down for three months and four of its top editors sanctioned. In the US, faith in the media is at an all-time low, with untruths and half-truths paving the way for Kellyanne Conway’s allegation of “alternative facts.” 

There is no smoke without fire. Yes, institutional censorship and politically-motivated silencing are undeniable realities worldwide. But in order to combat this, touting “freedom of speech” alone is not enough. The press must prove that it can fulfill its duty of unbiased, level-headed reporting, always. Trust must be gained and regained with every new issue.  

The 141st Executive Board of The Exonian––Editor-in-Chief Suan Lee, Director of Writing Rachel Won and Managing Editor Mai Hoang––accepts the scorching torch with humility and hope. We do not promise to be flawless. But we do promise to ask, every week, before sending our paper to print––did we choose every letter and pixel with intentionality? Can we stand by what we publish? 

And, most importantly: is our reporting accurate and fair?

- Suan, Rachel, Mai

News

In our past two years as News writers, the four of us have made our fair share of mistakes. We have missed deadlines and (accidentally) included Oxford commas. We have written articles that the public received in unexpected ways, both positively and negatively.

And yet, with the guidance of the previous board, we learned from our blunders and grew, both as skilled writers and diligent reporters.

Now, as we begin our tenure as News Editors, we find ourselves pondering the question: How do we determine what is newsworthy for our community? 

Since 1878, The Exonian has endeavored to meet the highest standards of unbiased, investigative journalism and countless Exonian News teams have contemplated this very question. As writers, we reported on everything from mental health on campus, to the Academy’s history of sexual misconduct, to squirrel overpopulation in the fall. As editors, we will continue to document the history of our institution—both its successes and its shortcomings—and not shy away from maintaining our editorial independence. 

The 141st News team—Sam Weil, Angelina Zhang, Benjamin Cai and Angele Yang—intends to publish all the news that’s fit to print, as The New York Times would say, while being conscientious of the impact it will have on our community. We seek to continue our section’s legacy by challenging our writers and prioritizing accuracy, honesty and fairness. 

- Benjamin, Sam, Angele, Angelina

Opinions

As Adlai Stevenson II once wrote, “The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum.” Within our granted domain in this paper, the 141st Opinions editors—Johanna Martinez, Andrea So, Cooper Wolff and Jack Zhang—will defend freedom of expression, open discourse and inclusivity of all viewpoints. 

Exeter is a school founded on the idea of honest and productive conversation. Carrying over the Harkness model to the Opinions pages, we will foster a safe yet bold space for the sharing of ideas. In this manner, our section will shed light on viewpoints expressed in discussions permeating the school, from classrooms, to dorm rooms, to the dining halls. It is this exposure that sparks intellectual discourse as well as a reevaluation of internalized beliefs. 

Exeter is more than a prep school; with students from 43 states and 28 foreign countries, we are a microcosm of the global community. As editors, we aim to give a platform to all voices, representing the entire student body fairly and accurately. We will ensure that the Opinions section is inclusive of diverse points of view and expose readers not only to campus issues, but to those that go beyond our bubble and spark discussions that both question and challenge. 

- Johanna, Andrea, Cooper, Jack

Life

Exonians possess a myriad of passions that extend beyond their academic pursuits. The Life section holds special potential to bring Exeter together and celebrate our community’s many talents, both on and off campus. 

In every issue, we, the 141st Life editors—Ginny Little, Candy Tantichirasakul and Nikita Thummala—will strive to present an accurate portrait of our beloved community. We want Exonians to truly know each other, to build stronger relationships and deeper bonds of trust. 

At Exeter, we are sometimes so wrapped up with our own responsibilities that in the craze of our daily routines, we forget to look around. Our education here is only made whole by the very people we share it with, the events that enrich our lives each day and the vibrant culture that makes Exeter, Exeter. 

Our section is here to bring these topics to you every week. We are here to bring you inspiring stories from within our own community, to let you relive every weekend event and introduce you to new media. Ultimately, we are here to remind you that there are many paths available to you at Exeter—each as valuable as they are different.

- Ginny, Candy, Nikita

Sports

Greetings Big Red Nation, these are your sports editors speaking. If you are an avid fan of our sports section, then get ready for the ride of your life. Over the course of 2019, our section will be action-packed with page-turning articles that will leave readers begging for the next issue. Gone are the days of your average sports articles. Introducing your new varsity sports editors: Leah Cohen, Caroline Fleming, Charlie Venci and Milo Walshe. Every Thursday is game day. Head straight to the back page for Exeter sports highlights, Outside the Bubble sports, Athlete of the Week and much more stimulating content. You won’t regret the read.

- Leah, Caroline, Charlie, Milo 

Humor

What’s the difference between Exonian News and Exonian Humor? One’s on the front page, and the other’s actually read by students. In all seriousness, we’ll try to live up to the hilarious Wheelwright and Mock Trial-centered jokes from Abby, Ava and Lizzie. We’ll continue to bring you Eugene’s Memes for Space Filling Teens and Isabella’s quote of the week. We—Nick, Ryan and Fiona—promise to provide high-quality humor and keep you laughing at the grill-thieving, Bus-Ride posting, Harkness-warring lives all Exonians lead.

- Fiona, Nick, Ryan