Fourth Estate

This semester’s co-news editors share their goals

BY BARRETT BALZER AND SAM DOUGLAS, NEWS EDITORS

This semester, news has never been more vital. As editors, we promise to cover stories to the best of our ability — including the important and difficult ones. In today’s day and age, freedom of speech has never been more important. Both Sam and I aim to build trust with Mason’s student body by reporting timely, meaningful stories and shining light on the issues that matter most. That is the mission we set for ourselves this semester.

Here’s a glimpse into our experiences and what we aim to accomplish as your Co-News Editors this semester.

Barrett Balzer/Fourth Estate

Salutations! 

My name is Barrett Balzer, and I am thrilled to be returning alongside Sam this semester as one of the Co-News editors! I am a junior  majoring in Political Communication with a minor in Journalism.

To me, news is the important, noteworthy events on or around campus — stories that will have the campus buzzing for days. In a time of uncertainty, like now, news is vital for keeping both our students and the public informed, which is why I believe it’s important  to take risks in our coverage.

If you have a story you think is news worthy, pitch it. The newsroom is always open for new ideas, writers and stories. It only takes one story to create change, or even fall in love with journalism. I fondly remember when I first started. I published my first story as a freshman, and by sophomore year I became the news editor. Being at the Fourth Estate has only allowed my passion to grow. 

To a great semester,

Barrett Balzer, Co-News Editor
bbalzer@gmu.edu

Sam Douglas/Fourth Estate

Hey everyone!

My name is Sam Douglas, and I’m happy to be returning to the news section this semester. I was the Assistant News Editor last semester, where I gained valuable experience that I can’t wait to build on in this semester as Co-News Editor with Barrett Balzer.

I am a sophomore majoring in Communications with a concentration in Journalism. You can usually find me on the weekends getting way too invested in Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State football or bemoaning the Baltimore Orioles’ latest losing streak.

In the news section this year, I’m looking forward to keeping the Mason student body informed on all of what’s going on around campus and the nation. From the student government to the federal government and everything in between, we plan on reporting about it.

If you have any interest in current events or writing, Fourth Estate  is the perfect place to get involved. The news section at Fourth Estate is welcoming of anyone, regardless of experience. Your work can truly make an impact here. With our school in the national spotlight more frequently than ever, now is the time for strong student-led journalism.

Sam Douglas, Co-News Editor
sdougl4@gmu.edu