For Immediate Release
September 29, 2021
Millersville’s Communication and Theatre Department benefits from the Snapper
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. ----- The Department of Communication and Theatre at Millersville University of Pennsylvania includes great organizations designed to develop inventive and problem-solving students. The Snapper supports this to the highest degree.
The Snapper serves as Millersville University’s newspaper. The organization has strived to provide campus publics with newsworthy content about the Millersville community, give students opportunities to get newsroom experience, and promote its department since 1925.
Past
The article, “The Snapper’s start,” by The Snapper at http://thesnapper.millersville.edu/index.php/2015/10/23/the-snappers-start/, gives a brief history lesson. Originally founded as “The Tipster,” the name changed to “The Snapper'' in 1925, says The Snapper. Also, the website says 1925 introduced the beginning of published Snapper content.
According to The Snapper, the organization evolved through many transformations. It says their content style went from a “pamphlet format to something resembling a current newspaper.” During this time, editors played an important role in The Snapper’s appearance.
“Some years had section editors, while some years had only the editor in chief, business manager and assistant editor listed, filing the rest under ‘editorial staff,’ ‘staff writers,’ and ‘business staff,’” says The Snapper.
Also, says The Snapper, starting out, sometimes students were required to purchase news. On the other hand, they sometimes had free news access. Depending on the year, The Snapper says that news issues were done every week or month. The Snapper’s history has led to the weekly routine operated today.
Present
Today, The Snapper’s staff consists of Faculty Advisor and Millersville Professor Robert Spicer, Editor-In-Chief Shaun Lucas, Managing Editor Nick Hughes, News Editor Kylie Stolzfus, Opinion Editor Katie Baker, Features Editor Simren Shah, Arts and Culture Editor Holdan Hitchcock, Sports Editor Dante S. McLeod, Photography Editor Kat Delaney, Associate Features Editor CJ Kar, Associate Arts and Culture Editor Whitney Walmer, Associate Sports Editor Trevor Teubner, Photography Manager and Social Media Coordinator Kat Delaney, and Multimedia Coordinator Julia Meassick.
Currently, The Snapper distributes free paper copies every week of the fall and spring semester. Some weeks, The Snapper has content done in a physical paper form. Other weeks, content posts are done online.
The organization begins posting articles online in the summer. During breaks, posts are not as strict as when the semester starts. This also applies to summer meetings.
The editors and associates are the ones involved in the organization during these times. When semesters start, staff writers start their involvement. News posts are now more frequent.
On layout weeks, by Monday and, at the latest, Tuesday, staff writers and associate editors must submit their articles for editors to review. Editors submit their articles to the editor-in-chief and others. After commenting on the articles and getting revised copies, editors and associates work on magazine layouts on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to around 10 p.m.
When all layouts are complete, news copies are printed on Thursdays. Thursday night meetings are held at 9 p.m. in The Snapper’s office. Editors discuss how they designed their sections and provide story ideas for future articles.
Some weeks no physical papers need publishing. Editors and staff writers are not required to write articles during these weeks. However, some will still post articles in their sections on the website.
Starting new semesters, The Snapper presents plenty of opportunities for students to get involved with the organization. Some editors share how The Snapper helps out students.
Impact
“It’s a combination of giving outsiders a way to stay updated about the whereabouts on campus while also giving the people who are directly in The Snapper professional experience that they can use in any field,” says Lucas. Hitchcock agrees with Lucas.
“The Snapper is important for Millersville University, as a whole, because it lets us as students dictate what other students in our community should know,” says Hitchcock.
Students have weekly access to Millersville news. The Snapper stays updated about current events on campus. Each student holds organizational value.
For those practicing journalism at Millersville, joining The Snapper provides a great way to sharpen skills. The environment allows for an introduction into life in the news field.
Teubner also feels the same way as Lucas.
“It’s a good way to help me prepare for my future career,” says Teubner. “I thought it would be a great way to get experience.”
Including the Snapper in The Department of Communications and Theatre promotes it. Hughes gives The Snapper high praise in his comments.
Promotion Aspects
“It gives people who want to get into the communications field a leg up if they’re in The Snapper,” says Hughes. “If they’re a journalism major and they’re not in The Snapper, they’re doing something wrong in my opinion.”
Further, Hughes believes that “experience is better than the degree.” A piece of paper doesn’t get people jobs. Showing the ability to perform the skills required counts. With communication, the requirement of working with others comes up a lot. Through the Snapper, The Department of Communication and Theatre advocates for this and more.
“It’s great to work with a team of people who love writing, photography, editing, all that stuff,” says Lucas. “It’s another way for students to give back to the campus, communicate more information and spread news.”
Along with The Snapper, The Department of Communication and Theatre has other great organizations for students. If interested, go to https://www.millersville.edu/commtheatre/.
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For More Information:
Dante S. McLeod
Sports Editor
(267) 393-5239
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