Dear readers,
As this school year draws to a close, we celebrate an incredible milestone: 75 years of The Spoke. Since 1949, this paper has chronicled the big moments and small details of life at Conestoga and beyond. As we reflect on this anniversary, we are humbled to step into our roles as co-editors-in-chief and are honored to carry the legacy of the student journalists who came before us.
Much has changed since The Spoke’s first issue hit the hallways, not just in the way we design our pages or write our stories but also in how we approach student journalism itself. The past seven and a half decades have brought new tools, new platforms and new expectations. From creating a black-and-white tabloid paper to exploring new mediums to continue to tell the community’s stories, The Spoke has grown alongside the ever-changing landscape of media — and we are proud to say it has adapted and thrived.
Still, at its core, The Spoke remains the paper of record for our community and a training ground for young reporters. We ourselves have experienced hours spent editing ledes, laying out pages and learning how to ask questions and listen to the people around us. Throughout it all, our commitment to upholding journalistic principles never wavered, although it has often taken tremendous effort. Our editorial boards, both past and present, have continued to strive towards adapting to and exceeding modern media standards, even as we navigate the shifting technologies and changing expectations of journalism today.
We know that journalism will continue to evolve, and so will The Spoke. We aim to honor the excellence that built this paper to what it is today and challenge ourselves to push it forward. We will keep experimenting, expanding our digital presence and striving to serve our readers with impactful reporting. In a time when local newsrooms across the country are shrinking, we know responsible student journalism matters more than ever.
To our readers: thank you for supporting us for the past 75 years. To our alumni: thank you for building the foundation that empowers us to keep reporting. To our current and future staff and editorial boards: thank you for the passion, persistence and energy you put into the paper and the joy you bring into our newsroom every day.
Here’s to the next 75 years of The Spoke, and to the stories we have yet to tell.
Lily Chen and Rowan Chetty
Lily Chen can be reached at [email protected].
Rowan Chetty can be reached at [email protected].
