Maclen Johnson

Once in a lifetime: Reflecting on three years with the Mirror

“News is only the first rough draft of history.”

The quote, attributed to Washington Post editor Alan Barth from the 1940s, has stuck in my head for the last three years. In a way, it’s been the culminating statement on my time here at Drury, but especially with The Mirror.

I was pleasantly surprised by how well my history major linked into journalism. I started with the paper just wanting a chance to write about music – and I did so pretty terribly. As time went on, I broke out of my editorial comfort zone. Conducting interviews forced me to delve into Drury life and speak with countless students, faculty and administration I otherwise wouldn’t get to meet.

The newspaper and the people who worked on it provided my truest sense of community. Spontaneous coffee trips and dinners disguised as Food DUdes articles brought me some of my strongest friendships. Shewmaker and The Mirror office became my home away from Pearson. The bright lights and rolling chairs of 219 hosted those of us who loitered before and after meetings to catch up and joke around. I spent hours getting lost in 60s rock playlists and KDRU shows as I chipped away at newspaper business. 

Our advisor, Greg Booker, consistently reminds us that it is our paper. While it is one of the oldest Drury institutions, the staff makes the call on what to write and how to print it. The level of freedom and flexibility was occasionally overwhelming. While there is so much I set out to do that I didn’t accomplish, I am proud of what The Mirror was during my time as its editor in chief. None of it would have been possible without Booker as the spectacular voice of reason, guidance and reassurance.

In this tumultuous year of COVID curveballs, 4 p.m. on Wednesday was my checkpoint. It was a chance to unwind and work on something immediate – to take a break from senior seminar research papers and produce a record of the times. Cracking up over Zoom calls with everyone on staff brightened my week.  

I’ve adored every opportunity and roadblock along the way that has helped me grow into the person I am now. It’s difficult to condense the bittersweet tidal waves that keep washing over me into words; suffice to say I will carry my time with The Mirror close to my heart. 

I give my best wishes and support to our upcoming Editor in chief, Samantha Ellis. Few people could match her spunk, deliberation and leadership ability. I can’t wait for her team to leave their mark on The Mirror.

Sammie Ellis

When I came to Drury, I never expected to become a big part of The Mirror, let alone its Editor in chief. I think I may have written in my Go Beyond essay for Drury that The Mirror was something I wanted to join when I got to campus, but honestly? I don’t think I even believed that when I wrote it (don’t tell the people in Bay Hall.)

Sure, I was a journalism major, but no high schooler really knows exactly what they want to do when they first leave high school. I was in love with the idea of investigative reporting so I chose to be a journalism major, but the thought of actually having to do it sent chills down my spine. Little old me, reaching out and interviewing people? It seemed like an impossibility at the time. It only took me one semester before I changed my major. I had flirted with the idea of journalism and I thought I had figured out it wasn’t for me. I was content to leave any thought of journalistic writing behind me. That was until Ciera Duban, past Editor in chief, convinced me otherwise. Ciera asked me to apply for The Mirror and I did so on a whim. My reasoning at the time was, “Well, I probably won’t enjoy it, but it will certainly look good on my resume.”

And I was wrong. One of the first articles I wrote was about Elad Gross and Betsy Fogle, who were running for seats in Missouri’s government at the time. I was scared out of my mind at having to interview such influential people. But after it was done and I had written a successful article about it? I felt absolutely empowered.

After that I was hooked. I fell in love with journalistic writing, with finding and sharing the stories of our community. And my love for The Mirror has only grown throughout the years. And as a result of that, I wanted to dedicate my time and effort into making the paper the best it can be by taking on the role of Editor in chief.
It’s hard to take on a role when the person whose shoes you’re filling has already done a fantastic job. Maclen has been an incredible leader this year. They have managed the paper with compassion, grace and an inimitable sense of humour, and I can only hope to do half as good of a job as they have.
I hope to continue Maclen’s and the Mirror’s legacy of creating content that is relatable to Drury students and covering stories that are important to our community. The Mirror is ultimately a paper for Drury and its students, and I hope that everyone can see themselves represented in the paper in one way or another.
I have a lot of hopes for my time as the head of the Mirror and some worries too, but ultimately I’m ready to take on the position. And yes, in case you were wondering, the irony is not lost on me. Even though I’m no longer a journalism major, journalism has become a major part of my life, and I couldn’t be more okay with that.

Article by Maclen Johnson and Sammie Ellis