![]() I enjoy running and hiking trails, trying out new recipes and exploring the city with my dog and friends. My name’s Anju Felix, and I’m a third-year undergraduate studying Neuroscience and Harp with a minor in Space Science and Engineering. Through a series of interviews with our editors, I hope to spotlight the humanity of our staff and forge a better relationship with our readers. Unfortunately, seeing a profile on an anonymous app does not positively contribute to humanizing our staff in the case of Sidechat.Īs the incoming Public Editor, I would like to address this problem in the coming months. When a student journalist approaches you in Brody Learning Commons or outside CharMar, you’re able to see them as human. When you harass a reporter, you are harming a fellow student. The News-Letter is a student organization made up of bright, budding journalists. “We are people, and is something we’re involved in and passionate about and want to contribute toward during our time at Hopkins,” she said. In an interview, outgoing Editor-in-Chief Laura Wadsten emphasized the humanity of student journalists. It is deeply saddening that because of their affiliation with the paper, a student had to endure this experience. The issue was that a student was targeted after presenting themselves as a writer. To be clear, the issue is not that jokes were made. When hateful messages and threats are thrown at the staff, who are fellow students as well, it almost seems not worthwhile. This presents a significant barrier to fulfilling The News-Letter's goals of communicating and hearing from students. It is often forgotten that those involved in news are also people, and as journalists, it’s expected that they want to participate in spaces where readers are most actively sharing their thoughts and opinions. Online harassment isn’t new to the media industry and is always a potential threat. In an interview with the outgoing and incoming Editors-in-Chief, it was determined that the paper would likely not use Sidechat in the future given these experiences. The writer stated that she would not be going back to Sidechat, nor would she be recommending other writers to use the app to solicit interviews. Nonetheless, I was very disturbed to find that they were outright harassed and abused through direct messages. Considering the popularity of the app and the range of diverse, colorful opinions, it seemed reasonable for student journalists to hop on the bandwagon, especially given the difficulty of finding sources and interviews in person. ![]() Earlier this month a staff writer at The News-Letter, who has been granted anonymity to protect her privacy, attempted to nail down interviews using Sidechat. Unfortunately, this is a lived experience. Hell, even Sidechat users have said that the app is a breeding ground for bigotry and harassment. ![]() However, without any means for accountability, the atmosphere on the app can be incredibly toxic. Under the guise of anonymity, students can post whatever they wish without real-life consequences. Many students expressed that Sidechat was a positive space, pleading with The News-Letter to keep the app (as if the paper has the power to take it down): Surprisingly I did see some funny and wholesome posts: ![]() To access the Hopkins Sidechat portal, students must use their JHED ID to create an account, making it exclusive for Hopkins students. ![]() It quickly became a platform to not only vent about campus tours and sexual frustrations, but also to praise the Crêpe Studio chef (a very valid observation). Unfortunately, although well-intentioned, the paper's attempts to tap into social media haven't been the most successful with the harassment of student journalists being a large issue.Įarlier this semester, a rebrand of Yik Yak called Sidechat dropped on campus. Naturally, with the intent of listening to students and gathering their opinions, The News-Letter followed this exodus toward social media. In recent years we’ve seen an evolution of what our community looks like and how we interact with one another primarily through the way students forge communities online. Through this role I hope to improve the interactions between The News-Letter and the greater Hopkins community.Īs a student paper it is The News-Letter’s responsibility to communicate with the student body and ensure that it is properly responding and reaching out to the community. Whether it be reviewing how certain issues are covered, investigating the impact of pieces on readers, offering advice to editors or lending an ear to the public, I’ve got it covered. What is that? How does one edit the public? I had similar questions.Įssentially, I report on all things our University’s beloved paper touches. In April I assumed the role of Public Editor at The News-Letter. ![]()
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