We are the Southern DIGEST

At Southern University, good ole’ SU, I’ve spent three and a half years here and I feel like my time has been fruitful with blessed opportunities, except with journalism.
As a 21 year old Mass Communication major with a concentration in print, I work at the Southern Digest so if you’re reading this, duh it’s a no brainer.
Journalism jobs are already direct and ask for two plus years of experience before you leave the university so being on the student publication seemed like a no-brainer. I didn’t expect that when I got here I had to deal with politics.
Since my stint with this publication, I have been cursed out, lied to, denied interviews and rejected by the student body, administration and officials but we still put out a publication every week with a smile (except when working after midnight).
Everyone makes mistakes while working or takes something out of context especially with an event that cannot be described fully.
No one on Southern University’s campus even knows their First Amendment rights until a reporter asks them a question, like really bruh.
By doing this, it has hindered progression for me and the staff by 50 percent. I understand full heartedly that scandalous events happen at Southern University just like at every college and the media are the worst thing that could happen to the planet Earth, but isn’t the Advocate branded more than the “Digest”. I’m pretty sure their articles sting a lot worse than the student publication, not talking about our brilliant staff at all but the Advocate has already tainted the community on why not to bring their students to Southern University.
Other publications will make Southern feel like an abandoned hood on Harding instead the advancement of education that it was made to be.
Then on top of that, with the advancement of social media, word is getting out about a lot of things that happen here so I don’t understand why we are targeted so harshly. If you don’t want to say bad things, don’t say it and if you don’t want anything to be printed then don’t do it.
The news entity is meant to COVER THE NEWS, nothing else, no if ands or buts. We are an entity that is meant to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and relay the message solely.
Let’s spit some hypothetical questions shall we.
If SGA is stealing money, we have to report it. If the administration is taking fund, we have to report it. If the student body is treated harshly by powers that be, then we have to report it. Because if people don’t know about the injustice that happens then it will keep happening and I will not stand for injustice.
What’s funnier is people are beating down the door to get a photo or a quote into the Yearbook but will bring a plethora of complaints or avoid the Digest. At the end of the day, in the back of your mind with hindering the process of the Student publication, you are hindering someone’s future and I’ll be damned if you ruin mine.