Kevin Kleine, student publications advisor

Berry College is a dynamic ecosystem of ideas, learning laboratories and innovation. Each day, dozens of stories unfold in our classrooms, residence halls, offices, labs, athletic fields and student centers. Many of these stories would go untold without strong college media outlets, like our student-run newspaper, magazines, podcasts and digital multi-media platform. Since it provides a vital public service, student media is much more than a co-curricular activity. It informs, connects and empowers the Berry community it serves. 

Now more than ever, we need the active participation of students not only as media consumers, but as creators and leaders. My role of the past 37 years at Berry has been to mentor student journalists and publishers. The goal is to provide a safe environment for staff members to learn professional standards while having the freedom to make mistakes. The real-time criticism that media staff receive provides important opportunities to learn and grow.

Student-run college media outlets are the only place on campus that deliver a regular diet of student artistic expression and news coverage from a student perspective in an unfiltered manner. They are doing more than simply sharing information or creative expression. They are helping to shape the collective understanding of campus life and what it means to be human. These outlets help students make sense of their life and environment and allow them to engage with the broader college community.

The success of campus media at Berry depends on student engagement. These outlets thrive when students read, listen, share and respond. They also grow stronger when students step forward to write articles, produce shows, design layouts, manage social media or lead media teams. These are but a few of the staff positions available within our student media. Student media is a collaborative enterprise that relies on your energy, creativity and curiosity.

Here is my call to action. If you are a student, your campus media needs you. Not just as a passive audience member, but as an active participant. Of course you should read, watch, listen and follow your student media. Of course you should comment, question and engage. If you even have a slight interest in storytelling, videography, audio production, graphic design, photography or simply making a difference, take the next step and get involved.

You don’t need prior experience. You don’t need to be a communication major. You don’t need to have all the answers. What you need is curiosity, a willingness to learn and a desire to contribute to something larger than yourself. College media thrives on fresh voices and new perspectives, and yours could be the one that changes the conversation. During my nearly four decades here, I sought to involve students from a wide variety of campus communities to broaden the reach and content of our student media. I’m continuing to do that now as I enter a new phase of my life, retirement.

The stories that define our Berry community are unfolding right now. The question is whether you will help tell them. Step into the newsroom, the production suite, the studio or the editing bay. Become a creator, a publisher, a journalist. The Berry community and student media is waiting to hear from you. As a loyal and dedicated student media consumer, I’ll be looking for your work from my retirement recliner in the future.

To all student media staff from 1989 to the present — I’ll see you at a Mountain Day in the future. I can’t adequately describe how much you have all meant to me. Thanks for the memories and keeping my First Amendment defender flame burning brightly.

— Kevin Kleine, Student Publications Adviser – Cabin Log (yearbook) – Campus Carrier (newspaper) – Ramifications (literary magazine) – Valkyrie (lifestyle magazine)