Letter from the Editor in Chief

Dear PLNU students, faculty and staff,

My name is Sydney Brammer, and I am honored to serve as The Point’s editor-in-chief this year alongside a dedicated and intentional group of editors and managers. I am beginning my final year at Point Loma Nazarene University, and looking back, it’s surreal to be in this position as I reflect on how much I’ve grown as an individual, a Christian and a journalist.

This past week was a lot to swallow, not only as an American citizen but as a journalist who consumes news every day and seeks the truth amid tough and messy situations. Every Monday at our editorial meetings, student journalists come prepared with story ideas based on things like complaints they’ve received or heard, new university policies that affect the community or a long-standing system that might be causing more harm than good. 

It’s been The Point’s goal to inform, educate and bring to light issues on campus, celebrate where it’s due and promote accountability. And it’s my character to do my absolute best in being a fair, humble, objective and kind journalist.

However, after the string of violence that has occurred nationwide recently, it was particularly hard to juggle being a Christian student journalist. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.

I want to call it what it is. Journalism isn’t a place to beat around the bush, walk on eggshells or say something without actually saying what you mean. It’s straightforward. It’s simple language. It’s supposed to be easy to understand. So I’m addressing the series of violent acts that have occurred nationwide. Just to name a few, I am talking about the killing of Minnesota House Democratic leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, the murder of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, a firebombing on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home, the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska and the shooting at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, CO. It hurts my heart that there is more to add to this list.

Journalists around the world are working to ensure people know these names.

As I walk around PLNU’s campus, I see stories all around me. I see things and question why it is that way, how it might impact students and how university authorities are upholding what they said their mission was. This requires hours of reworking my ledes and story structures, hours interviewing and listening thoughtfully to people’s stories and careful precision in ensuring my words honor and reveal the truth. 

The Point’s mission is to be an accurate and ethical source of information for the PLNU community. Since I’ve been a student here, this effort has run true. I’ve gotten to watch The Point grow and expand from what it was three years ago. Last year, the previous editor, Charis Johnston, rebranded The Point. She designed the logo you see today, revamped the website and made strides to ensure we were upholding our mission. When she asked me to take over for her, I was ecstatic at the idea of building off of this foundation.

Behind the articles posted to lomabeat.com, behind every print edition, seven sets of eyes ensure every article that reaches you, the community, is not short of our standards for delivering the truth, holding those in power to account and sharing stories of what makes this place unique. The Point is a home for that — for your stories, your experiences, your complaints. 

It’s not easy managing a team of editors and writers to get events, sports games and breaking news covered while also pursuing your own in-depth article every week. There’s also a sense of satisfaction for me with every print edition we produce. Knowing all the work, time, care and intention that goes into the stories selected for print, the placement of the photos you see on the page, the headlines, punctuation choices and design. What you’re holding wasn’t recklessly thrown together. It was carefully woven with the consideration of what you might find more important or interesting. 

With that, it is my intention for The Point to be warriors and advocates for the truth. I encourage you to reach out to us with your stories, your concerns and your questions. While we are a place to celebrate success, we are also a place to talk about hard things.

There are some changes to The Point this year that I want you to be aware of. First, we have official newsstands, thanks to Jeff Bolster, PLNU vice president of university services. You can find one in the Caf, Bobby B’s, in front of the Bond Academic Center and Golden Gym, and inside the library and Fermanian School of Business. Second, we are not printing weekly this year due to financial constraints. You can expect an edition bi-weekly, along with occasional special editions, which will be in full color. 

With fewer publications, we will be posting content on lomabeat.com and Instagram more frequently to ensure you are still getting your news. We are also launching a newsletter, merging with the other media groups on campus. This is in the early stages, but the plan is that it will be weekly. This will give you the top news and campus happenings straight to your inbox. More information is soon to follow.

I’m looking forward to serving the PLNU community this year. There are many stories I’m excited to have the privilege to tell, as well as provide context and perspective to. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that there’s always more than one side to a story.

Best,

Sydney Brammer