As student journalists who work on our newspaper diligently every week, the 2024 election gave us a unique perspective on not only the candidates and their policies but also how media is constructed and distributed to the public.
Here are some takeaways from some of The Whit Editorial Staff regarding the recent elections’ news cycles.
Madison Miller, Editor in Chief: “Watching the election this time around, I appreciated the work of journalists around the country even more than I already did. I also have a greater understanding of news media literacy, and how to make informed decisions than I did when I was seventeen. I am incredibly excited to enter a profession that plays such a crucial role in our democracy and I’m lucky to have studied media and how it works at Rowan University.”
Sophia Fandino, Opinion Editor: “As a college student who has studied within the field of journalism, I want to applaud the journalists who spent time and put effort into covering the election. Back in 2020, I wasn’t into politics much. I found it to be too confusing for someone as young as me to understand. The difference that I’ve noticed between 2020 and this year’s election is how educated our high schoolers are when it comes to how our political system works. I think the media coverage, intense dissections and analyses, and explanations, all of it helps to educate the generation that will be voting in the next election. So as someone who has learned to fall in love with the insane world of politics and how it works, I feel grateful to our reliable news outlets for contributing the objective news necessary in educating the next generation.”
Abigail Twiford, Co-News Editor: “Journalistically and intellectually, this is the most interesting election in my lifetime, maybe in history, and I’m excited to be a part of that history by voting, tabulating votes for the Associated Press, and covering the election.”
Sarah Shockey, Co-News Editor: “Even though I’m a journalist, I watched the election coverage on TV like anyone else would. My mom, sister, and I all sat around our television anxiously waiting for the results and it was a late night spent just waiting in anticipation of if our country was going to move forward or backward.”
Paige Britt, Features Editor: “As I was anxiously watching election results pour in last night, I realized I was observing from a different lens. I was watching as an American citizen, a young woman, and a journalist. I had AP News open all night, checking their minute-by-minute updates. Although I had a lot on my mind about what the results would mean for me personally, I couldn’t help but think how exciting it is to be a young journalist right now. I woke up this morning emotional about the results, but with an ignited passion to talk to my peers about their thoughts and feelings, and an even more dire need to write about the results and their consequences.”
Beth Cimaglia, Arts & Entertainment Editor: “Elections are some of the most exciting things for me. This was my second time voting in a presidential election. I Door Dashed pizza, had four tabs open on my computer, and a live stream set up on my phone. I was glued to the map on AP news the entire night, eagerly awaiting different polls to close in the states. As the night progressed, my emotions and my anxiety grew. I felt like I was re-living the 2016 election, except this time, it was impacting me directly. Before the votes were called in Pennsylvania, I called it a night. I turned off my laptop and shut down the live stream. I went to bed and said to myself, ‘Maybe tomorrow things will look brighter.’ This was the most unprecedented election I have witnessed in my lifetime. With one candidate having assassination attempts on his life and another dropping out in July, it was a rollercoaster from start to finish. As much as I’d like to say ‘I’m glad it’s finally over,’ I know it isn’t. We have a lot of work to do in these next four years. In many ways, this is just the beginning.”
Owen O’Brien, Copy Desk Chief: “I stayed up until 3:00 a.m. watching the results. And when it was all said and done, it felt like standing at the base of a mountain. I’m very firmly a “writer” before I am a “journalist,” but as someone who’s still in this world, I’m ready for what this moment brings. I feel most alive in sticky situations when you can feel the negativity and chaos on your skin. I’m pumped.”
Claire McDermott, Copy Editor: ”As a student journalist and writer, I found it really exciting to be part of Election Day, it made me feel like I was part of something special because I was. As a writer, it inspired me to want to educate myself as much as possible so that I could be informed and confident in my voting contribution.”
Tyler Delpercio, Co-Sports Editor: “I wasn’t keeping track of media coverage due to the fact that I was tabulating votes for the AP during it. It was a fun, yet hectic experience, as I was up until 4:30 a.m. taking calls from different stringers.”
Marchella Mazzoni, Copy Editor: “With the opportunity I had to cover the 2024 election during my time as a student journalist, I felt incredibly thankful to be able to put my election coverage on my portfolio of work. I covered early voting and reproductive rights for The Whit’s features section as well as women’s rights and healthcare for Rowan Radio’s election night. I gained a variety of insights on what impacted students’ decisions to vote this election season. I envision myself in the future covering the next elections as a professional journalist.”
Brendan Cohen, Graphics Editor: “During my experience as a student journalist, I never dove into writing about politics because politics, as everyone knows, is a very tough subject. I’ve kept an eye on some of the media bias based on the election and how false information about the candidates influences the world around a person.”
For comments/questions about this story DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email opinion@gmail.com
