The first edition of Clark’s student newspaper hit the racks in 1947. There weren’t any photos, and the first story was a notice from the paper about a contest–the Penguin Edition was looking for a permanent name–with a whopping $10 prize for the winner.
Seventy years have passed since then, and a few things have changed. The paper traded names a couple of times; the layout gradually drifted from classic newsprint to the magazine format you see today and we don’t develop our photos in a darkroom anymore.
But some things have stayed the same.
The Independent is Clark’s community newspaper, and we’re still committed to the same 3-pronged mission we always have been: To provide thoughtful, objective and timely news coverage, to serve as a learning lab for students pursuing journalism study and to serve as a forum for reasonable and thoughtful public debate on issues of concern and interest to the college community.
This year, the Indy is recommitting to its role as a community paper. That starts this quarter with a complete revamp of our social media presence and an ongoing push to make our website cleaner and easier to use.
We’re also adopting the Humans of Clark College Facebook page, which was started last spring by journalism instructor Gosia Wozniacka based on Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York.
Wozniacka isn’t at Clark anymore, but after seeing how much the community welcomed HOCC, we decided that it was important to us to keep the project alive.
The college is facing some big changes this year too. Some are good, like the return of Clark’s culinary and baking programs and the official opening of Clark’s food pantry. But others are worrying. The future of DACA is still unclear, and so is the effect it will have on Dreamers in our school and community, and the state Legislature has yet to approve the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges’ capital budget, leaving the timeline for the college’s Ridgefield expansion in limbo.
Journalism helps the public make informed decisions while holding those in power accountable for their actions. And that’s never been more important than it is today.
At the Indy, we’re focused on keeping the community informed by reporting on the news that matters to our readers, from curriculum changes and student activities, to politics social issues on campus. And we can’t do that without you.
Like every newspaper, the Indy thrives when it has a good relationship with its readers. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be working to make it easier for you to send us letters, news tips and feedback.
Whether you’re new to Clark this Fall, or if you’ve been here for a bit longer, I hope you’ll support what we do here by reading the Indy on our website and picking up your own copy when it comes out in print.
