We at the Branding Iron, with our last physical paper until next year, want to share our experiences in creating a newspaper during the fall semester.
Brian Bessey; Editor-In-Chief
This semester has been tough on a lot of us, but I am proud to say that I think my team and I have accomplished nearly all that we could. During a normal semester, the Branding Iron would usually have a large staff with 15 or so writers; this year, we have only six dedicated journalists. These journalists not only wrote fantastic articles for the Branding Iron, but they also captured nearly all of the photos on our website and in the paper. I am proud to have helped put together the 123rd volume of this historic newspaper.
Kathryn Mayers; Assistant Editor
I worked at the Branding Iron last semester as a photographer until the university became completely online due to COVID-19. Once online I worked as a photography and a writer until the summer when I just worked as a writer. I was offered the assistant editor position before classes started and anticipated a hard semester but saw it as an incredible opportunity to grow and learn. I was definitely nervous and did not believe I could help lead a team, but Brian and our faculty advisor Cary have been very supportive and educational through this promotion.
I have loved this semester with the Branding Iron even though we are virtual. The team of journalists, editors and faculty advisors we have make working for the BI great no matter where we are. Obviously there were bumps in the road that we had to learn from and grow from, but the team worked well together through everything.
Victoria Pumilio; Journalist
I joined the Branding Iron team this Fall in hopes of rekindling my joy for journalism. The pandemic really threw a wrench into the normal reporting process, specifically when it came to interviews. There were many weeks that I had trouble contacting people through email and phone calls but didn’t have the option of knocking on their office door. Though it was tough, it made for a unique learning experience and I discovered better ways to get in touch while still being COVID-19 safe. In the end though, I was still able to connect with some amazing people and make business relationships throughout the process. This continues to be my favorite part of journalism.
I’m grateful that the Branding Iron has such an amazing team this year, because it made the struggles worth it. Without them, the paper wouldn’t be possible at all, COVID-19 or no COVID-19. I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned through the experience is that communication is key, and this is something I’ve transferred into my current pandemic experience on a wider scale.
Kristen Cheser; Journalist
This semester has taken some time to get used to. This new “normal” hasn’t been all that bad. It’s been nice to see everyone during the budget meetings which has also kept me from going crazy from staying at home so much. It’s good to have some sort of sense of normalcy when not much feels like it. Whether it’s still from home or finally back on campus, I look forward to next semester.
Jackson Gould; Journalist
Being in the dorms during this crazy time was at the very least, boring and frustrating. As I wrote articles and did my school work, I wouldn’t come out of my room for days at a time. Excluding showers and going to Washakie for meals, I would just sit at my desktop to write, talk to others on discord, and stream on twitch.
This wasn’t what I expected for my first year, I wanted it to be more social and educating. Not being trapped in a room for days on end sleeping in late and missing my online classes while slowly drowning in overdue assignments. Only thing that kept me sane was discord and my twitch streaming.
Sabrina Considine; Journalist
By the time I started working for the Branding Iron in mid-October, there was already a system in place for reporting during the pandemic. We have phone interviews, clock in and out virtually, send lots of emails, and take photos socially distanced. While I understand some of the limitations of reporting in this way—for example, the difficulty of finding students willing to be interviewed—this is all I know. This is my first experience with journalism; I haven’t experienced what it is like before the pandemic world.
Earlier in the semester, I got exposed to COVID and my coworkers were really helpful in covering what I couldn’t do. I wasn’t able to get photos for my article, since you cannot go on campus if you have been exposed, and they were gracious enough to take photos for me. The Branding Iron team has been welcoming, accommodating, and supportive even though I have never actually met them. I am looking forward to what else we can do while we are all working virtually.
Tanner Conley; Journalist
Like every other person in Laramie, my job changed with the pandemic and the subsequent regulations that followed. I wouldn’t say it got any more difficult as I am sure there are jobs out there that are much more difficult than mine in this time. But the rules of the game changed if you will. 90% of the news stories I write these days are tied to the pandemic in some way or another. This isn’t a bad thing, it just means more hours at the tiny writing desk in the corner of my room.
Personally, I think this pandemic sucks for everyone. But I am in the unique position where I can catalogue the major events and opinions of this time so that when future generations look back, they can read the words that all those texts and calls provided. Frankly, I am just happy to be a random college kid lucky enough to report on all of it.
Stay safe everybody, one day it will end.
Hayden Hess; Graphic Designer
I was lucky enough to have been working for the paper before the quarantine and pandemic really took swing, and honestly the transition from in person to telecommunication and remote work was nothing short of incredible. Staff of the Branding Iron all seemed to latch on quickly to the new work system, and because of this adaptation early on I feel that we were able to establish a system in which we can still deliver a consistent and well put together paper for our readers. I’m the graphic designer for the Branding Iron, so while the Editor-in-Chief was spearheading our online transition, he was also working with me in refining the design of the Branding Iron as we have it today.
Things have been moving fast lately, and I couldn’t be more proud of what the Branding Iron team has accomplished in the face of adversity. Between such a reliable crew, a dedicated support network, and the quality leadership of our editors, I am beyond excited to continue to help make the Branding Iron the best publication it can be!
Although we are not printing a physical paper for the rest of the year of 2020, we will still be regularly posting articles online. Find us on the @uwbrandingiron Facebook Page.
