Editorial
Introducing SpecSpeak
By Editorial Staff
October 29, 2015
Hamilton College stands apart from its peer institutions for its renowned writing program, a defining characteristic of its prestigious academic curriculum. Through writing-intensive courses and the significant assistance of the Nesbitt-Johnson Writing Center, Hamilton improves and primes the skills of even the most eloquent student writers.
Though there do exist college courses pertaining to reading and writing creative nonfiction, there currently are no courses relating specifically to journalism. Time and time again, leaders of student publications struggle to find new, or just consistent, contributors. And, despite the impressive list of accomplished alumni journalists—former writer for The Washington Post and recipient of a 2000 Pulitzer Prize Henry Allen ‘63; former Special Projects Editor and former White House Correspondent for TIME Magazine Barry Seaman ‘67; and founding Executive Editor of ESPN Magazine Steve Wulf ‘72, to name a few—the Career and Life Outcomes Center lacks the connections and options for students interested in pursuing journalism internships and careers.
While notable journalists, such as Paris-based world news editor for The Daily Beast Christopher Dickey, have come to the Hill for small lectures, they came to discuss particular issues rather than specifically journalism and careers in the industry.
Accordingly, The Spectator finds that it has a greater responsibility to the student body than its role as the official student newspaper: It is an educational tool, a vehicle through which students can both discover their love of journalism and practice the craft in a legitimate publication. It fills the journalistic void on campus, providing interested students with the outlet and form of education they want and need in order to learn a style of writing Hamilton does not currently teach.
That is why we chose to begin our new journalism lecture series, SpecSpeak. We are hopeful that this series will help us grow as journalists, while also opening a new avenue of discourse between interested students and successful alums in an the field.