Letter from the Editor
- Rachel Spooner '26
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
I am proud and a little teary to be posting my final piece in The Stormy Petrel. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my experience and how journalism has shaped my college career.
My interest in journalism began in my sophomore year when I took Intro to Newswriting with Dr. Keib. What was first a writing requirement option for my major became a newfound, unexpected passion. I loved the puzzle aspect of writing a news article: interviewing subjects, doing research, finding background context, and how to put it all together in a way that makes the most sense and gives the reader the information they need.
At that time, there was only one person running the publication: my good friend, Fynn Grindle. In my junior year, I joined the team as co-editor to make it a duo effort. In my senior year, I became editor-in-chief and built a team of four. Now, as I graduate, I am proud to say that the 2026-2027 executive board will include six students--a record high that I hope indicates a growing interest for journalism on campus.
Recruiting writers for the newspaper has not been an easy task because many people, through no fault of their own, have a skewed vision of what journalism is, its purpose, how it works, and why it exists.
Journalism doesn't have to be scary or serious, though it often can be due to the nature of our world. Before becoming a journalist, I hated reading the news because it all seemed so gloom and doom. But by now, I've realized that some of the best pieces of journalism are the ones that shine light, give hope, and amplify voices.
I started my junior year as a member of The Society of Professional Journalists Georgia Pro chapter, a nonprofit dedicated to upholding ethical journalism, promoting media literacy, and supporting and educating local journalists. At the end of my junior year, I was elected secretary. I am the youngest person on the board. Networking with professional journalists and helping promote our chapter's events has given me a great passion for journalism ethics. (I cheered watching Superman (2025) when Lois pointed out the ethical problem of Clark interviewing himself as Superman. Before you ask, yes, I'm a nerd). This continuously helps me spot poorly-written pieces, sensational headlines, bias, and articles meant to divide and inflame. That's not what journalism is about. It's about informing and uplifting.
Thus begun my passion for human interest stories and features. I have had some amazing
opportunities as a writer for the student newspaper. I've interviewed some of my favorite bands and reviewed their concerts. I've gotten into fan conventions for free as a member of the press and talked to indie vendors and artists. I even interviewed a prominent voice actor from Baldur's Gate 3, one of the most awarded video games of all time (and my favorite). It was through these experiences that I learned that journalism can be fun. And I realized that maybe I wanted to do it professionally.
But early in my senior year, I hit a major road bump. I had secured my first professional journalism internship with a magazine. An experience I was excited for and proud of quickly turned into a nightmare: poor communication from the staff, disorganized virtual meetings, and unclear expectations. I was the only editorial intern on a team of photographers, social media content creators, and data specialists. At the beginning of the internship, they established that all interns would be paid by assignment. Days into the internship, they changed the written agreement--writers (me) would now be paid by the word. None of my story pitches were ever approved, and I never got any actionable advice from the staff on how to improve despite consistently asking.
It was a rapid downward spiral, and I felt like I was drowning.
The internship had turned from an editorial position into a PR position. That wasn't what I wanted, nor was it what I applied and signed up for. I was debating quitting the internship, which is usually a massive early career no-no. I'm not afraid of hard work or plans changing. But I knew that something was wrong.
So I reached out for help.
My professor, Dr. Keib had already helped me secure a communications internship at Atlanta
United in my junior year, and it was one of the best experiences of my college career. So when I was faced with my impossible decision, I scheduled a meeting to speak with her. She told me what was happening wasn't normal for a journalism position.
So, going against everything in my nature, I quit my internship--mere weeks after it began.
And it was the best decision I could have possibly made.
During my meeting with Dr. Keib, I asked if she had any journalism contacts she could reach out to to see if they were interested in having a student intern. This ended up being Keith Pepper, the publisher of Rough Draft Atlanta, one of the city's most popular hyper-local news outlets.
Weeks later, I had an interview scheduled, and in January, I was Rough Draft's newest editorial intern. And I cannot say enough about how amazing the experience has been.
The entire team is endlessly supportive, and they welcomed me into the tight-knit reporter family so easily. Again, I found myself the youngest person in the room. Again, I was surrounded by incredible mentors who trusted me. I had so much help along the way, but never once was I micro-managed or spoon-fed--I was truly free to learn, to make mistakes, and to grow. I hope every student at Oglethorpe gets a similar experience. It was so freeing and boosted my confidence immensely. Being trusted by others helped me learn to trust myself.
My experience with The Stormy Petrel showed the editors at Rough Draft that I was a well-rounded reporter capable of writing on many different topics and beats. Having published articles to share was a huge help--they were able to easily see my written work. Being co-editor and editor-in-chief also showed them that I know AP style well and that I can keep an article clear and concise.
Two months into my internship, I was entrusted with covering the Atlanta History Center's 100th anniversary. As I began my work on the piece, I was told that it would be the cover story for the March edition of Rough Draft's Atlanta Intown paper. I was thrilled. Seeing my byline in print for the first time was a really special moment.
My time with Rough Draft has been filled with similar special moments. One of the best experiences I had with Rough Draft was interviewing a favorite artist of mine: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham--and going to her concert for free!
It was totally divine intervention. Music journalism is a big passion of mine. I had long planned to pitch covering her concert at the Variety Playhouse in March (it was even in my "ideas to pitch" note on my phone when I was at my other internship). Before the time came around when it seemed relevant enough to pitch, one of my co-workers at Rough Draft messaged in the Slack channel that Madison's publicist had reached out and asked if anyone at the publication was interested in covering the concert. I IMMEDIATELY volunteered and was given the story without question.
I was so excited to get to see Madison live again--I'd seen her open for Hozier in 2023, and I was already a fan before that. I knew I was capable of writing a great concert review. But amidst my email exchanges with the publicist, I got one very special message: "Let me know if you're interested in speaking with Madi before the show!"
AM I INTERESTED???
I hope I seemed very calm and collected in my reply because in reality, I was shaking and texting my friends that I was going to interview Madison Cunningham!
I would have NEVER felt ready to interview an artist as popular as she is if it hadn't been for my music journalism experience with The Stormy Petrel. I'm grateful to Hotel Fiction, Starbenders, Ace Monroe, David Brighton, and Devin Shamel for not only reading an email from a young student journalist at a tiny publication asking for an interview, but also agreeing and generously giving their time to help me get the reps and experience I needed. (The "most generous award" goes to Brighton, a David Bowie impersonator; get two Bowie fans on the phone together and a "quick interview" turns into a 45-minute conversation about the starman himself. You can read our geek-out for yourself here. )
My Zoom interview with Madison Cunningham was nerve-wracking, but I was prepared. She told me at the end that my questions were "beautiful." That's always my goal for interviews: if the subject isn't enjoying answering your questions, you're not going to get good quotes. Doing extensive research is key. Lead with the facts and background, then get the insight and opinion. It gives subjects a steady jumping-off point and keeps them on-track--and helps you get the quotes you need.
Then came the easy part: the concert. You can read my article in Rough Draft here. It may seem a little too glowing or complimentary, but it was honest reporting. It was an incredible show unlike any I'd ever seen.
Over the course of my spring internship at Rough Draft I wrote 19 articles on a wide variety of topics. I wrote about an abandoned crane in Midtown, Atlanta's longest-running no-kill animal shelter's 60th anniversary, various Atlanta festivities, and I even got assigned to cover Oglethorpe's student film festival. Getting to highlight my university at an internship that Oglethorpe helped me get felt very full-circle. You can find my Rough Draft author archive here.
Truthfully, before my time with Rough Draft, I had burned out in a big way. I didn't want to be a journalist anymore. I lost the passion for a while there. Juggling multiple jobs on top of excelling in my classes on top of a student leadership role wasn't easy. I'm endlessly grateful to Rough Draft for bringing my fire back and helping to remind me that journalism really can be fun.
As the semester winds down and graduation approaches, I'm feeling more and more grateful for Oglethorpe every day. I have learned so much and built great relationships with my professors that I hope will last beyond commencement. I can't imagine spending these four years of undergrad anywhere else. I'm excited to see what the future holds, and I know that The Stormy Petrel and Oglethorpe will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Congratulations to the 2026-2027 editor-in-chief: Isabella Fonseca. I know The Stormy Petrel is in good hands with you, and I'm so excited to see how it will grow.
My advice to aspiring journalists: Be the youngest person in the room. Read news. Seek out stories. Find what YOU love about journalism. And, of course, join The Stormy Petrel!
My advice to Oglethorpe students: Ask for help. Your professors are here for you. Shoot your shot. Don't be afraid to walk away if your heart tells you you're in the wrong place. Odds are, you'll find the right one. Don't let these four years pass you by--get experience, get involved. Take advantage of your student status--people WANT to help you and lift you up. Lastly, don't stress. Listen to "Vienna" by Billy Joel. What is meant for you won't miss you.
"In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." - Gordon B. Hinckley
Oh--and if you're wondering why I posted this, I'm hoping to create a tradition for all future editors of this student newspaper! Running this publication is hard work, and I think the editors deserve a moment to reflect on everything they've done. So that being said, join me in welcoming Isabella Fonseca as the '26-'27 Editor-in-Chief! The Stormy Petrel is in good hands.
Comments