Editorial: New Kaimin Editor's note to readers

The funny thing about being journalists is that no matter how well we do our jobs, a newspaper is still only as good as its ability to listen to its readership.
The Montana Kaimin has no advisory council and no shareholders. The School of Journalism is always welcome to make suggestions, but that’s the extent of its authority over the paper.

Therefore, the Kaimin is solely accountable to its readers.
The primary way we can ensure we don’t let our 13,000-member oversight committee down is by being transparent.
If we make mistakes, you will know it, because we will run corrections as soon as we learn of them.
We will not hide behind nameless sources, nor will we let our sources hide behind anonymity. If, in an extreme situation, we do allow sources to remain anonymous, we will explain our reasoning.
As a journalist on an intimate campus such as the University of Montana, it can be difficult not to cover people you know, but we will remain committed to avoiding conflicts of interest.
Before beginning my time at the Kaimin, I spent two semesters in 2006 as an ASUM senator. There I became acquainted with an eager and competent young senator named Trevor Hunter. He stayed with ASUM when I left for the newspaper. Since then, he has remained my closest friend and confidant, and this year serves as ASUM president.
To avoid questions about the objectivity of our ASUM coverage, I will not editorialize on the actions of the student government. That will be left up to other editors.
For the last decade, the University of Montana has constantly ranked as having one of the finest journalism schools in the country. There’s no reason it shouldn’t also have one of the top student newspapers. But if readers absorb news like slot machines take in retirement money – that is to say with little or no return – the work we do, no matter how good, won’t matter.
Paying attention remains one of the most important duties of any citizen, but it’s particularly true this year, which will see both a presidential election and a legislative session. And while the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain won’t regularly be covered on these pages, you will find in the Kaimin both news and analysis relating to the very issues that will decide the election.
So get engaged without spending the money on a ring. Send in letters to the editor, leave comments at montanakaimin.com, and discuss what you read with friends over beers (or herbal tea).
Guide us by speaking out and speaking up. Just don’t do it during class. Use that time to work on the crossword puzzle.
— Bill Oram, editor, william.oram@umontana.edu