Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
It is unclear how long the Daily Gazette website will remain operational.The Daily Gazette is pleased to announce our move to a print-only publication, effective immediately.
A number of factors drove this decision, including budget restrictions, but the most fundamental reason for the change is that the relevance of web journalism is fading fast.
We hope to use the medium of print to reach new audiences and escape from the technological confines of the internet.
“When we started, the internet was an exciting, unconquered domain just waiting for news organizations to take advantage of its possibilities,” said Gazette founder Seth Schoolhover-Wool ‘98. “Now, it’s increasingly clear that this whole internet thing was just a fad.”
A print publication will allow us to reach a more limited audience, making it difficult for campus outsiders to learn what is happening at Swarthmore.
Moreover, this move is environmentally friendly. A story that nobody reads will no longer waste precious bandwidth; rather, it can be recycled as birdcage-liner or a chic three-cornered hat.
“We’re thrilled about printing in color,” said Editor-in-Chief Doug Southerlaind ‘11. “We’ll only have the budget for one color spread in the middle of our paper, but we hope to overlay text with multicolored graphics that render the text completely illegible.”
“We can’t wait to choose a story at random for the cover – like something maybe happening (or not) with bag lunches, or something maybe happening (or not) with a gazebo – and sensationalize it. I’m really looking forward to putting a big question mark on our cover for a juicy non-story.”
“I originally chose to write for a web-based publication because I was interested in starting conversations with my readers, thinking that feedback through comments that would keep me accountable as a journalist,” said reporter Wilma Trees ‘11.
“I’m excited about transitioning to print, though,” she continued. “Now I can forget about quality reporting, because I know that the writing that I’ve slaved over will be passed over by readers who just want to get to the crossword.”
“I really like a writing process that holds me to rigid spatial constraints,” said Gazette writer Monique Zales ‘13. “The web just can’t offer that.”
Devoted Gazette readers will be happy to hear that there will be little change in the _Gazette_’s content. “The Gazette will continue to publish our many, many one-hit wonder op-eds, often at the expense of actual news,” said Southerlaind.
On behalf of the Daily Gazette staff, we are pleased to bring you this award-winning publication in print form for the first time. Readers, please enjoy our April 1st issue!
