After my time as news editor, I took a semester off for an internship. As we neared the end of spring ‘23, Anish Vasudevan, Abby Presson and I had started to discuss who would make up management for our senior year.

“Not us,” we collectively agreed.

Two out of the three of us were entirely wrong. Abby got the last laugh.

I couldn’t be happier about being wrong, however. This last year at The Daily Orange has brought me equal parts joy and stress. If you’ve seen me at The D.O. — or at a party where I shouldn’t be checking Slack — you’ll know that’s a lot of joy.

The paper is only as good as those who work here. Time to thank them:

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Richard Chang: There isn’t a better person to talk shop with. The journalism industry, despite my love for the medium, is in a difficult spot. Thank you for hearing my frustrations out when it seemed impossible to get a job or internship, for appreciating a good baconmander and being quite a role model when I first came to The D.O. as a shy freshman.

Emily Steinberger: Only a select few can so beautifully balance such emotional care and an intense need to photograph reality for what it is. As a journalist, but more speaking as a Jewish person, L’dor V’dor deserves all the attention and praise it received.

Karoline Leonard, Francis Tang, Shantel Guzman & Lilli Ianella: First, to Karoline and Shantel, I’m sorry for yelling that one time as a sophomore. Still have no memory of what I was trying to focus on — hope there are no hard feelings. More seriously, this group of four defined my first couple semesters at The D.O. Without their cool heads, I don’t think I’m still working here today. They’re all incredibly successful beyond their years. They don’t need to hear that from me!

Maya Goosmann: Space camp savant! I’m so happy to report that when we said we’d keep in touch after graduation that we both meant it. Thanks for having a brain that’s been broken by the internet in similar ways. You will be immediately killed by this action. Proceed?

Hank O’Brien: Oh those poor, poor Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby’s on the way out and the Islanders are on the rise … right? Thank you for sharing your encyclopedic knowledge on whatever interests you. I also have a blast getting your thoughts on whatever I am celebrating or admonishing.

Meghan Hendricks: Possibly the photo GOAT? You’d be hard pressed to find many others who have dedicated so much time for a department that deserves more praise than it regularly receives. Thanks for extending your responsibilities to snapping a picture of us at every D.O. party.

Morgan Sample & Megan Thompson: My budgets as news editor were not always easy to design for, especially when stories would consistently and constantly fall through. You both were so understanding and have an innate ability to just make any idea, no matter how poorly drawn, gorgeous.

Luisana Ortiz: My music taste has gotten a lot of shit but having a fellow Takanaka and System of a Down lover working with me made that easier. Your work at The D.O. has such a distinct voice, one that I can immediately tell is you. Don’t let anyone in this industry try to take it away.

Grace Katz: Formula 1 is a dumb sport where drivers can quite literally just be the son of a team owner. The formats are constantly changing and its leadership constantly makes baffling decisions. I can’t stop watching it. Thanks for also being obsessed and giving me voice memo updates on life in the big city.

Siron Thomas: I mean it when I say that Siron Thomas is probably the sweetest man on Syracuse University’s campus. It may have come out three ago at this point (WHAT??), but your article on coffee’s place at SU perfectly exemplifies the type of journalist you are: a fun mix of engaging, informed and off-beat.

Richard Perrins: It’s fitting that after years of working together we both got the newspaper editing award from Newhouse. With the amount of time I’ve spent at The D.O. with you, I can confidently say there’s no one I learned more from. Stressed out by balancing my Jewish identity and impartiality while covering antisemitic langauge and imagery found in Bird’s archives, you reminded me that I was picked for the job because you knew I could handle it. Thanks for being right and keeping the faith.

Jana Seal: Last time I wrote a duck I called you the “ultimate girlboss.” I’m going to stick with this characterization but add that I’m happy such a girlboss found some time outside of the paper this year. Keep in touch!

Chloe Powell & Mark Nash: This paper doesn’t operate without you two. For those of you who don’t work at The D.O., that isn’t hyperbolic. The D.O. runs on advertisers and donations, and Chloe and Mark make sure that people start, and keeping, working with us. It’s a thankless job with no byline. In the future, we should put a note under ads stating which rep secured it.

The fall ‘23 & spring ‘24 news teams: The news section is special to me. Despite my place in management, I’ve probably done a bad job of hiding that. The work these two teams produced over just one year boggles my mind. For those of you who are ducking or already have, please know that you have so much in front of you. For those who are staying, text me, call me, send a carrier pigeon — I want to help you all out!

Tyler Schiff: I swear I’ve never seen you not smiling. Even when waiting in line at Popeyes surrounded by drunk SU students, you keep up the positive attitude. Even if I had to reign it in sometimes, I am forever amazed by your unique take on sportswriting. Anything can be art. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Maxine Brackbill: Speaking of bringing an artistic eye to The D.O., Maxine your photos this year have amazed me. I told you this at our last Sunday meeting, but it’s worth repeating: we all owe you one. Your out-of-nowhere one liners brought me out of some terrible moods. Keep being the funniest person in the room.

Abby Presson: Howdy, neighbor! I’ve been happy to open up the house for you to film the news recap each weekend. When I came to The D.O., we didn’t have this sort of content! You, Mariah and Roxanne just absolutely crushed it. With this duck, the final member of The French Dispatch has left the paper. Thanks for being one of the only other surviving members (along with Richard). Au revoir!

Kelly Matlock: Some of the most fun culture A1s I’ve ever read came out of your hard work this semester. Being a head editor, in my opinion, is the hardest position to be in at The D.O. You’ve handled it so well, especially given the makeup of this year’s management. Whatever you do in the world of literature, I’m happy I’ll be able to say “I knew her when.” Keep killing it.

Olivia Fried: The opinion section, I think you could probably tell, stressed me out. Agita might be the most accurate word, but I’m not entirely sure. After working in a section where reporters make a conscious effort to not input their own opinion, thanks for showing me the value in just giving people a platform to speak their mind. Whatever you do next, it’ll be killer.

Bridget Overby: With the number of times you’ve stayed up with me and Anish to finish the paper in the wee hours of Thursday mornings, I believe you’ve earned your spot as the fourth member of this year’s management team. Having the ability to just let you cook and not have to worry about the design (because I knew it would be good) made my life easier in ways I don’t think you know.

D.O. alumns: Hello! For those I’ve emailed, called and direct messaged, thank you. The advice I’ve received from people from across the industry over the past year has been invaluable. I especially want to thank everyone who participated in this year’s Palooza. I’m not much of an event planner but you really did get this year’s staff engaged. To future staff, ask for my contact. I hope to be as useful as the alumni who helped me.

Kendall Luther: The two of us came into this semester with a mission: dig deeper. Go past whatever the press release states or what officials immediately tell us. I’d like to think we’ve accomplished that mission, completing some of the most difficult stories either of us have ever been a part of. You heard it already from me, but I’m really proud of you. I’m excited to see you take some time off from the paper, but I also don’t think you’ll be gone from The D.O. for long.

Rachel: You truly are one of the most talented people I’ve ever met, whether it be in writing, editing or being there for when your friends need it. The world of publishing is one I’m still trying to understand, but if your coworkers at the press are any indication, you’re on your way to a fantastic career. If you ever want to come back to journalism, I can be sure in stating that the world wants more writing on alpacas. Each member of the culture section looks up to you for a reason. You got this!

Stephanie Wright: Anish is a better person to speak on this, but I believe that you have all the skills you need to be a fantastic editor-in-chief. You get a taste of it as news editor, but being EIC means taking the paper’s flak. If you make a mistake, it’ll be deserved. Even if it wasn’t a mistake on your part, you’ll still have to be even keeled about it. It’s difficult to protect your own emotions while trying to make the right decision for the paper, but, like I said, you have the skills you need. Remember that every mistake you’ll make has been made before in the paper’s 120 year history. Bounce back and don’t burn the place down.

Cassie Roshu: Truly, the DME makes the world go round. Despite hating to admit it, the vast majority of The D.O.’s audience engages with our social media and not the website itself. As photo editor, you knew how to frame and consider your audience. Here, you’ll be doing the exact same. I’m so excited to see what you do in the position. If I’m ever in your neighborhood, I’d love to try hiking!

Cooper Andrews: Coop. The Tortoise. President of the Caleb Williams Fan Club. I am so excited to see what YOU do as managing editor. It’s an incredibly strange job where you influence so many decisions while also feeling like you lack any control in the slightest. All I ask is that you stay confident in your abilities (because you have an innate talent for writing and editing) while also knowing when to ask for help. Nearly every mistake I made came from an ego. Kill it. It’ll help in the end.

Sophie Szydlik: SOPHIE! Now that the semester is nearing its end, I think I can finally forgive you for making me trek downtown for a non-existent production of Hadestown. More seriously, your energy made the early months of this job possible. But, matched only by your energy, is your thoughtfulness and care for those you write about. Make some time for yourself as well.

Stef Mitchell: This semester, you helped me keep a grip on reality. When my own thoughts, or whatever I was reading at the time, started getting me frustrated or flustered, you were able to speak to me straight and get me out of it. I very much enjoy journalism. I don’t really think that that’s up for debate. But, I really appreciate you helping me understand that making it my everything probably isn’t helpful or healthy. Enjoy working for fashion icon Brad Lander.

Anish Vasudevan: It’s gotten to a point where I’m shocked by the fact we barely talked as head editors. I’ve told you what I’ve told everyone else: you were annoyingly good at your job. Lucky for me, I got to work with you as a team. Right from our first meetings about the direction of the year, I felt good about where our work would lead. I’m happy to say — despite all the groans — I’m proud of what we did. Sorry for ensuring editorial integrity when it came to FEEM. Being annoying is just sometimes the job.

Mom, Dad & Dylan: Okay, so not all of my decisions as managing editor were correct in the end. That’s part of the job, an occupational hazard, as Cindy calls it. Thank you for listening to me go on hours-long rants about the state of whatever topic I’m researching, whether it be presidential history, nuclear energy or space trash (that’s a more recent obsession). More importantly, however, is that you were there for me when things weren’t going so well. When I wanted to quit. When I felt like no matter what I did I couldn’t win. You three got me through all of it. Hopefully, the journalism industry is in a stable place, right?

Published on May 6, 2024 at 11:35 am

Contact Kyle: kschouin@syr.edu | @Kyle_Chouinard