The Rider News is ‘At The Forefront’ of current issues

By Libby D’Orvilliers

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Feb. 25 that President Donald Trump’s administration will now choose which media outlets will be allowed to cover the president up close. In recent weeks, the White House has turned away reporters from the Associated Press for the international wire service’s continued use of the name, “Gulf of Mexico.”

Today and everyday, it is critical to remember that freedom of the press is a First Amendment right and that journalists have the power and responsibility to utilize this right and report the facts to inform the public.

Press freedom is more crucial and relevant than ever, and student journalists, their campuses epicenters of change, will play a vital role as new laws and legislations are passed and implemented. 

Feb. 27, 2025 marks the eighth annual Student Press Freedom Day. This year’s theme is “At The Forefront” and aims to capture the responsibility student journalists and press have in providing their communities with information they need to understand and navigate a rapidly shifting world.

Since The Rider News’ first issue was released in 1930, it has been dedicated to providing the community with breaking news, investigative reporting, sports recaps and highlights, opinion pieces, local features and entertainment coverage on campus all in one location. 

The Rider News prides itself on thorough, accurate reporting from our campus community. We also examine and cover issues on a more macro level than just our relatively small university. This is part of what makes us so indispensable. 

As senior executive editor Jake Tiger put it: “We are at the forefront of so many issues in higher education.”

Just because we are student journalists, does not mean that the stories we write and report on are any less serious and important than professional publications. We still have a very important power. 

To the expense of utilizing a cliche, we want to acknowledge that “with great power comes great responsibility.”

We take pride in our goal of ensuring that we are respectful of the platform we have to report on national issues from a local Rider community-centered angle and produce unbiased and accurate stories. 

Senior news editor Jay Roberson notes that as student journalists, being “At The Forefront” can be very emotional for students and is an “act of bravery” at times. Yet, we are committed to rising to the occasion again and again. 

The current federal government administration has influenced the increased sense of hesitancy and trepidation among student journalists in covering news stories that are especially pertinent to the higher education community, such as recent governmental threats to change diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and policies.

Right now, for student journalists, it is exceedingly important that we do not fall prey to the fear attempting to be instilled in us from the current federal administration to report on the issues that the community cares about and needs to stay aware of.

Student journalism is a key component in maintaining an informed and aware society.

We are not backing down from our platform. We at The Rider News remain loyal to serving as a platform for news coverage to the community.

This editorial expresses the unanimous opinion of The Rider News editorial board. This week’s editorial was written by opinion editor Libby D’Orvilliers.