Reflecting on 2021: A message from the outgoing editors of the ‘Prince’
To our readers,
When we took the helm of this incredible organization at the beginning of the year, we had no idea what to expect. As our predecessors wrote a year ago today, 2020 — a year defined by uncertainty and loss — had tested us all.
2021 was no less a challenge. Many of us would return to campus in the spring of 2021, but it was a bittersweet reunion. Some friends were still home, our newsroom was still closed, and our Princeton community lacked the closeness and spontaneity fundamental to the Princeton experience. Vaccination provided hope for a return to more normalcy soon after, but those dreams were somewhat muddled by the presence of the delta and omicron variants.
Throughout a harrowing year, the work of the ‘Prince’ persisted, from across countries and time zones in the spring and summer to back in the newsroom for much of this fall. The work we do and the community we’re a part of have inspired us and kept us going. We’ve kept Princetonians informed, prioritized mental health and diversity, reimagined how we interact with our readership, and much more.
The 146th Managing Board of the ‘Prince’ will officially begin tomorrow, and with it our terms in Upper Management come to a close. We are confident that Marie-Rose and her team will lift this publication to new heights over the year to come.
To our staff: The ‘Prince’ would be nothing without the countless hours and extraordinary effort you’ve put into reporting, writing, designing, editing, and so much more. Your care for both your work and each other is truly special, and it has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside you. Thank you.
To our readers: At its core, this paper is about telling the stories that shape the community we all hold dear to our hearts. The ‘Prince’ depends on you for accountability, and as always, we hope you will continue to send along your tips, suggestions, and critiques. As the ‘Prince’ moves into its next era, we hope you will come along for the journey.
As our times at the helm come to an end, we wanted to reflect on some of our favorite work from this year. These stories and moments represent only a morsel of the ‘Prince’ success this year — and we hope you enjoy revisiting them with us.
It has been an honor to serve you, the readers, over these past twelve months. Have a happy and healthy 2022!
All the best,
AG, Harsimran, Kenny, Zack, and Emma
Managing Editors and Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Princetonian's 145th Managing Board
|
|
PUZZLES
January 2021 | Our first year of crosswords
Gabriel Robare and Owen Travis, Head Puzzles Editors
|
|
|
At the start of this year, Gabriel Robare and Owen Travis — both first-years at the time — came to us with the idea of creating a puzzles section at the ‘Prince’. AG, Emma, Harsimran, Zack, and I enthused over their enthusiasm, and we told them to go for it.
In the early weeks of January, Gabe and Owen began making crosswords. Meanwhile, they worked closely with Darius Jankauskas from our technology team, who built a custom website that still blows me away. By Jan. 27 — just as students arrived on campus for what would be a surreal virtual semester — the nascent Puzzles section launched its first crossword, “A Bad Online School Day” (what a fitting title!). In the matter of a few weeks, Gabe, Owen, and Darius took an ambitious idea and got it off the ground.
But what impresses me even more is where the section is now. Within a year, the ‘Prince’ has produced nearly 50 full-size crosswords from over 20 contributors, many of whom came to the ‘Prince’ without any crossword constructing experience. As our board comes to an end, I’m excited about what the change will bring: new ideas ready to be realized, and new people eager to join in. — Kenny
|
|
DESIGN
September 2021 | The weekly print product
Abby Nishiwaki, Print Design Editor
|
|
|
When we transitioned back to campus, we made an important but difficult decision: to shift to a digital model with weekly print production rather than dedicating resources to daily print. As a “digital first” organization, we have been able to expand our reach with quality online journalism and a reimagined print product.
Since September, our incredibly talented Print Design section, headed by the very skilled Abby Nishiwaki, has completely redefined our print paper. From breathtaking designs to creative page layouts, the broadsheet brings a fresh look to the newspaper while continuing to feature stories from various sections, old and new. Producing each issue has not been without its difficulties, but I couldn’t be prouder of the final result. This is truly a reflection of what the ‘Prince’ is about — coming together to report on, and for, a community that is important to us all. — Harsimran
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE PROSPECT
October 2021 | For all the queer tigers, but especially myself
José Pablo Fernández Garcia, Associate Prospect Editor
|
|
|
|
Reflecting on the year, I found myself thinking again and again of articles that tell strong, personal narratives of resilience and existence. José Pablo Fernández Garcia’s “For all the queer tigers” is one such narrative. The honesty and hope within his storytelling remind me that being true to ourselves is the most beautiful and radical thing we may ever do.
Fernández Garcia’s story brings to mind countless other narratives told through the Opinion and Prospect sections in recent memory — Gabriel Robare’s vulnerable “A defense of doing less,” Wendy Ho’s visual essay on “What I wish we were taught about sex and intimacy,” the collective stories told under “Reflections for National First-Generation Day,” Collin Riggin’s brilliant “Been here, now where” … What these stories and arguments do, collectively, is humanize each other. In doing so, they help to ensure that we work together towards a just and good future that does right by us all. I’m immensely grateful to have been on a paper that produced narratives like these, and I look forward to the ‘Prince’ continuing to change lives through its stories in years to come. — AG
READ THE STORY →
|
|
PODCAST
November 2021 | Daybreak goes to Dartmouth
Hope Perry, Mark Dodici, and Wilson Conn for Daybreak
|
|
|
Just a few years ago, we had no podcast section. This November, we sent reporters to Dartmouth to cover the game via our daily podcast, Daybreak. As an organization producing the next generation of journalists, we seek to report in new, more innovative ways, and Daybreak is a stellar example.
Mark Dodici, Hope Perry, and Wilson Conn, as well as the rest of the podcast team, have shown us what's possible, as we seek to transform and push our journalism. As one of the few schools to have a consistent daily podcast, Princeton's team is unparalleled.
With a remote spring semester and a fall tempered by restrictions, it was hard to replicate the same thrill of on-the-ground reporting we had prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, the Daybreak team exceeded all expectations: Driving themselves to Dartmouth, they not only covered the game with skill, but they also epitomized one of the best parts of the ‘Prince’ — the close-knit community. — Emma
|
|
NEWS
November 2021 | Life after accusation: Inside Princeton's Honor Code
Marie-Rose Sheinerman and Claire Silberman, Investigations Editor and Head News Editor Emerita
|
|
|
|
Last month, Marie-Rose Sheinerman and Claire Silberman published a phenomenal deep dive into the mental health impacts of Princeton’s honor code — giving a voice to students, faculty, and administrators grappling with these issues behind the scenes. More than just a well-researched, well-written piece of journalism, their investigation serves as a poignant reminder of our mission at the ‘Prince’: to uplift untold stories, bring stakeholders into conversation, and drive dialogue on campus.
Their story is also a cornerstone of collaboration, with beautiful web design from Anika Maskara, breathtaking photos by Angel Kuo and Abby de Riel, and an astounding print article layout driven by Thanya Begum and Mark Dodici. I know the 146th Board will continue telling powerful stories and innovating how they are told, and I’m excited to watch in awe. – Zack
READ THE INVESTIGATION →
|
|
|
|
|
