Fabiola Rio / The Mossy Log
Young people today do not understand the role of the press in our society. Since the 1990s, newspaper readership among young people has steeply declined. Multiple polls from this year have found that TikTok is the top source of news for members of Gen Z and is overall increasing in popularity among Americans as a mode of news consumption. Furthermore, news-based content is often not intentionally sought out by many young people and is rather encountered incidentally through social media algorithms.
Both in the broader American media landscape and among young people in particular, the press is becoming increasingly disparate. This affects not just how people consume news, but also how they interact with it.
As the managing editor of The Mossy Log and someone interested in the shifting journalistic landscape, creating content for a collegiate student body has challenged my approaches to journalism in many ways. I am enormously grateful for the feedback we have received from our community — both the good and the bad. But I have noticed that many people seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of the role of the press, which is something I largely attribute to the social media-ification of journalism.
As a publication, we pride ourselves on journalistic independence. Our content does not have to cater to administration or student government interests to survive, which is not the case for many college newspapers. We are free to criticize Lewis & Clark and the entities it contains without risking budgetary retaliation, which is a great privilege that we take seriously. Our reportage discusses issues that matter to our community, from administrative decisions to student activism, with a commitment to uncovering truth and providing context. However, the critiques we often receive suggest a misconception that our role is to act as a mouthpiece for specific factions or to avoid reporting on topics that may be uncomfortable or controversial for people.
This expectation likely stems from the social media-ification of journalism, where content is often reduced to brief soundbites or designed to reinforce the viewer’s existing beliefs. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram reward engagement through sensationalism and relatability, not through depth or accountability. As a result, many young people come to see the press not as an institution meant to inform and challenge, but as an entity that should entertain, align with their perspectives or bolster their causes.
This misunderstanding undermines the press’s ability to function as a watchdog, a forum for diverse voices and a force for transparency. Journalism is not activism, although the two can intersect. Nor is it propaganda, designed to serve the interests of any particular group. It is a discipline rooted in inquiry, analysis and the pursuit of accuracy, even when the truths it uncovers are unpalatable.
A misconception I often see among the student body is that when we publish quotes and opinions of people who espouse certain beliefs, it is an inherent endorsement of those views. Others have said that the personal actions or beliefs of members of our editorial board are indicative of our publication’s values. Both of these claims are false. This is not how news outlets have historically functioned, and it is not the prerogative of The Mossy Log.
The role of a news publication is to report on the events, ideas and perspectives that shape its community, not to advocate for or endorse every belief it covers. When we include quotes from students or report on controversial topics, our goal is to present the facts and represent the diversity of thought within our community. Journalism is about fostering informed dialogue, not promoting or suppressing a singular viewpoint in the community.
Similarly, the personal beliefs or actions of individual staff members do not define the values of the publication as a whole. The Mossy Log, like any legitimate news outlet, operates with a commitment to fairness and independence. Our editorial board includes a variety of perspectives, but we come together around a shared principle: to report the truth as accurately and impartially as possible. The opinions expressed by editorial board members both in the pages of this publication and outside do not reflect the views of The Mossy Log as an entity, and potential conflicts of interest are taken very seriously when assigning articles.
Expecting a news outlet to sanitize its content or align with a specific ideology undermines its ability to challenge power, ask tough questions and reflect the full complexity of the world it covers. Journalism thrives when it prioritizes the public’s right to know over the comfort of its audience, even when that means publishing uncomfortable truths or contentious viewpoints. This is the standard we strive to uphold, and it is essential that our readers understand and respect this role.
Particularly after the election of Donald Trump, it is imperative that we engage with our communities. Local media outlets like The Mossy Log, The Oregonian and Portland Mercury connect us with our neighbors. They highlight voices that may be otherwise overlooked. They force local institutions to be transparent in their practices so that our corner of the world is structured to serve its constituents. But more than anything, they ensure that we have the information to make educated decisions about our lives.
Newspapers also serve as a historical document — a snapshot in time of the issues faced by communities and the topics we care about. It is deeply important to me that, when it comes time to tell the story of this college, it is done so by its students.
An entirely student-run newspaper ensures that our stories, priorities and voices are preserved authentically, reflecting the lived experiences of those who shape this community.
When future generations look back at our archives, I want them to see a record that is honest and unfiltered, a testament to what mattered to us, what we debated and how we evolved. This historical record should not cater to ease or reductiveness, but instead embody the integrity and diversity of perspectives that define our campus. Our work as student journalists is more than a biweekly summary of notable events and issues; it is one junction in an over 80-year tradition at our school designed to platform community voices.
To be clear, critique is essential to the functioning of any journalistic institution; The Mossy Log is a fallible entity with the limitations and shortcomings of any other news outlet. But critique should be rooted in an understanding of what journalism is supposed to do. If we want an informed, engaged community, we need to recognize the importance of independent reporting and reject the reductive mindset fostered by algorithm driven content consumption. Journalism, including on our campus, deserves to be held to high standards. But to do that, its function within our local community and broader society must be understood.
If you have ever been angered by an article we have published, upset that a subject you care about was not covered or skeptical of our editorial board’s ability to publish independent, fact checked content, talk to us about it. We encourage constructive criticism from our community because we care about fulfilling our obligations to you. Our pitch meetings are completely open to all community members, every Monday at 5 p.m. in J.R. Howard 135 (resuming after winter break now that our last issue of the semester is out) — come and pitch us a story for something you want to see covered. Or, even better, come and write for us yourself. We have historically struggled to keep a strong base of contributors throughout the semester, forcing us to rely on editors to write many articles in each issue. The best way to create diversity in the type of voices we feature is to fulfill that role yourself, and get paid to do it.
The Mossy Log is a platform shaped by and for the students of LC, but it can only thrive with your active participation. Whether by sharing your feedback, pitching stories or joining our team, you have the power to help us better represent the complexities of our community. Journalism is a collaborative effort, and its strength lies in the diversity of voices and perspectives it encompasses. If you want to see change, be part of it — because the story of this college is, ultimately, the story we tell together.
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