Amy Potter: News, one step at a time

The life of Katherine Graham -- longtime publisher of The Washington Post -- was nothing short of admirable. In control of a major national newspaper and its concurrent Fortune 500 company for nearly three decades, Graham was a rare phenomena in the 1960s. She was a female in an unprecedented position. She was a celebrity who commanded respect. She was a natural newswoman, deciding to publish the infamous Pentagon Papers in the early '70s. She was a moralist who urged reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward to pursue the Watergate scandal. She faced throngs of protesters, angry politicians, disenchanted employees and disappointed friends. Graham was called tough, unbending and even unfair at times. She faced ridicule when her reporters traipsed over appropriate lines, digging into the Nixon scandal. Throughout turmoil and success, she managed to keep The Washington Post going -- and growing. "I had very little idea of what I was supposed to be doing, so I set out to learn," Graham wrote in her memoirs, entitled Personal History. "What I essentially did was to put one foot in front of the other, shut my eyes and step off the edge." As the incoming executive editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian's 119th board, I can't think of a better role model than Graham. The prospect of taking over any news organization is daunting. It took me months of conscious struggle and late-night thought sessions to determine my verdict. I weighed a myriad of factors. Another year of nights stretched into the early hours of the morning with class again at 10 a.m. Another year of heated debate and difficult decisions. Another year of devoting my life to a newspaper. But what pushed me over the edge and behind this desk was the mission of this organization -- hands-on learning -- and the people who are here to make this work. At The Daily Pennsylvanian, we deliver news to Penn and its surrounding community. As Penn's entirely independent student newspaper, we stand in a unique position to serve this campus with uninhibited coverage of the issues at hand. Every day, over 14,000 copies of the DP are distributed throughout campus. They sit in stacks in the high rises, in DRL, at the corner of 34th and Walnut streets and all around campus. They lay crumpled in lecture halls and study rooms. Crosswords are torn out and filled in, some more successfully than others. Every Thursday, 34th Street, our arts and entertainment magazine, provides something that the DP cannot -- satire, humor and in-depth features. Every week since 1989, The Weekly Pennsylvanian is sent to locations across the United States, allowing parents, friends and alumni to get a quick glimpse at the issues facing Penn's campus. And then there's our Web site, www.dailypennsylvanian.com, which is available at any hour of the day. Since 1995, the Web site has allowed us to post breaking news. More than that, it helps to increase dialogue between our readers and our writers. Whether it is the DP or 34th Street, our goal is to give our reporters, staffers, editors and managers practical experience. Our aim is a greater understanding of how a college newspaper should function. However, this organization isn't just about educating those who are involved. It's also about reaching out into the community and delivering vital information. We want both our readers and our staffers to learn -- and to question. I know that not everything that shows up in our newspaper will please you. In fact, I'd even go as far to say that most of it won't. But what will make our publication stronger is the input and suggestions of our readers. Log on to our Web site to dish out criticism or send our editors e-mails when you feel our work is poor. Submit letters to the editor and guest columns when you've got something to say. Or, even better, come to our introductory meeting on Jan. 22 at our offices at 4015 Walnut Street. Maybe you're interested in covering speakers and talking to University President Judith Rodin, or sitting on press row at a Penn men's basketball game. Maybe you're interested in learning how the DP manages its million-dollar budget or how the DP sells thousands of dollars in advertising every week. Maybe you're a photographer or an artist looking for practical application. There is a place for you here. Our organization is continuously changing and modifying, and any new opinion is always welcome and encouraged. By learning from each other, and constantly questioning, we can strive to induce change on Penn's campus. Amy Potter is a junior World History major from Albuquerque, N.M. and executive editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian.

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