Seventeen new board members and 19 returning editors join the 2008 editorial board of The Heights, which is responsible for the production and operation of Boston College's independent student newspaper.
Members were elected by editors from the 2007 board as well as staff members last November.
Pilar Landon, A&S '09, will take over as editor-in-chief of The Heights and president of The Heights, Inc., the nonprofit organization that publishes The Heights. This is her third year on the board, having served as the news editor for the previous two years.
"This year's board has so many third-year members whose expertise will be extremely beneficial," Landon said. "The new board members bring enthusiasm and willingness to make their marks on the paper, and I look forward to seeing their ideas and contributions take shape. Everyone is extremely talented and dedicated, and I expect 2008 to be an award-winning year."
This year's board hopes to continue the high level of professionalism and standard of excellence set forth by the 2007 board, while continuing to improve and expand. By sponsoring on-campus events, the board looks to promote community outreach and emphasize interaction between readers and editors. Students should look forward to more speakers from the field of journalism talk ing about the media as a career. The board also plans on making more entertainment events, like the 2006 screening of 300, available to readers and students as well.
The Heights also looks forward to providing its readers with continuous, in-depth coverage of developing news stories, like the University's newly released master plan and the 2008 presidential election. Sections like News, Features, and Marketplace will also be undertaking several mini-series to give a more critical look at important issues from various angles. Exclusively online this semester, check out video projects from students studying abroad.
"Expanding the breadth of our coverage is essential in maintaining our commitment to bringing the student body the most complete and current news," Landon said. "The master plan is arguably the most important undertaking in University history, and The Heights will be covering it every step of the way. We hope that the paper will be an engaging forum of student, administrator, and community reaction."
The newspaper also elected Michael Kindrat-Pratt, CSOM '09, as general manager and Grant Hatchimonji, A&S '10, as managing editor. Kindrat-Pratt will oversee the business and operations division, while Hatchimonji will manage the newsroom and production.
Kindrat-Pratt, having tallied two years of experience on the business and operations side, said he looks forward to making strides in the paper's financial standing. "We are thoroughly excited to move forward with our extremely talented and well-qualified managers. We hope to bring another year of sound financial health to The Heights, Inc.," he said.
This year's section heads are News Editor Alexi Chi, A&S '10; Sports Editor Jessica Isner, A&S '09; Features Editor Tula Batanchiev, A&S '09; Arts and Review Editor Joseph Neese, A&S '10; returning Marketplace Editor Michael O'Brien, A&S '09; and Opinions Editor Tim Mooney, A&S '09.
Other newsroom managers include Copy Editor Courtney Lyons, A&S '10; Special Projects Editor Jennifer Roach, A&S '09; Photography Editor Ian Thomas, A&S '09; and Layout Editor Tue Tran, A&S '11.
The business office staff is as talented and capable as the editorial side, led by Business Manager Kyle Pochini, CSOM '10. He will be joined by Advertising Manager Madeline Koessler, A&S '09; Local Sales Manager Joelle Formato, CSOM '11; Systems Manager Christopher Lane, CSOM '09; and Outreach Coordinator Pat Irish, A&S '09.
The Heights will also undergo a year-long organizational self-study, undertaken by former Editor-In-Chief Patrick Fouhy, CSOM '09.
Since its change to publishing twice a week in 2004, the paper has not seen any major overhauls in the way it operates.
As organizational project manager, Fouhy will examine the structure of the paper from an operational standpoint and determine how the paper can improve in its overall efficiency.
Hatchimonji took a moment out of production day to comment on his hopes for 2008.
"While I am excited to have so many returning editors on the board, I am really looking forward to working with all the new talent as well," he said. "Everyone has already established such an incredible dynamic with each other, and I can already tell that as a team, we're all going to produce an extremely high-quality paper this year."
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