I'm willing to argue - it's how I got the job - that the role of Public Editor is one of the most important jobs at The Daily. And unlike Robert Samuels, who takes a knife to his sleep schedule as Editor-in-Chief, the Public Editor is the easiest job on staff. The more The Daily does right, the less I have to do.
But the various pissed-off letters on the Forum page speak clearly: the Daily is never fully correct. As a three-year Forum junkie, I always enjoy the contention surrounding the Daily's coverage, including the usual confusion about journalistic practices on the whole.
That's where I come in. Since I'm free to define the role of Public Editor however I see fit - a perk, along with the oily backrubs - I'd like to cut to the core of the job using the eloquence and profundity it deserves.
I am the bitch.
Using that word in the most non-misogynistic way possible, I've realized that at least half of what I do involves a lot of gritty, behind-the-scenes work on the ol' third floor of the Norris University Center.
Like that Medill School of Journalism freshman who wants to run the New York Times someday, I read and analyze each issue of The Daily, cover-to-cover.
In an effort to improve the staff's understanding of its coverage, and somehow validate my Psychology minor, I track a ton of statistics. If you're quoted in The Daily, I toss your name into a database.
From there, I try to piece together (read: Facebook stalk) a few bits of information about you: whether you're a student or not and, if so, your class, school, gender and number of times you've been quoted in The Daily.
How does all this help improve The Daily? From these statistics, I can gather a fairly good understanding of whether the paper's coverage and sourcing accurately reflects its news function.
If The Daily is quoting an abundance of Weinberg freshmen, that might be a good indication that it's failing to accurately offer a diversity of viewpoints.
Or if you've just fired off a pissy letter to The Daily because it never features your favorite gender/ethnicity/major, I can use the statistics to either show you why you're wrong, or start waving the flag with you.
Most importantly, the prior example illustrates the Public Editor's primary role.
I am your bitch.
It's my job to know when you're concerned about something. While I much prefer the drama of a good, scathing flame-mail, I know that a lot of criticisms of both journalism and The Daily are more whispers than roars.
The paper might give me a byline when I want it, but truth be told, I'm really working for the reader.
I haven't referred to The Daily as "we" or "us" in this column because I need to be neutral to do my job - I'm the journalist of the journalists, the watchdog of The Daily.
But I need you.
I want to know the very minute you have a question, regardless of size or silliness, that relates to The Daily, journalism, NU, or the number 42. We can talk shop using any medium you want.
You, the reader, are not just my inspiration; you're my boss.
Starting today, I'm punching in.
Public Editor David Murphy is a first year Medill graduate student. He can be reached at murphthis@northwestern.edu.
