In 1898, The Argonaut was created.
One man – one of about 100 students at the University of Idaho – took on the task of creating what nearly 117 years later is the paper I know and love.
Katelyn Hilsenbeck
Argonaut
Guy W. Wolfe is a hero – and so is his father. He was the editor and business manager, who began publishing with only $25. His dad covered the publishing bill the first year when Wolfe failed to raise enough revenue.
The “University Argonaut” in its six-inch-by-nine-inch format hit stands once a month.
What began as a small effort of one man has turned into the best part of my college experience.
The Argonaut has given me – and all the editors that have come before – an incredible wealth of experience. I have led a staff of 60 to 80 people at any given time for a twice-weekly publication. It”s no small feat and a humbling experience.
Every individual comes with a unique personality and needs as a staff member. Juggling an editing staff and helping them manage their own staffs is an experience I will take with me throughout my career.
As a transfer student, The Argonaut immediately became my home on campus. I was fortunate enough to have been hired before I arrived in Moscow, making my transition seamless.
The people on staff are special, and being on staff together has a way of creating friendships that last a lifetime. UI felt welcoming to me from the beginning of my college search, but The Argonaut exemplified this.
I”ll never forget the cold winter day in 2014 when I was questioning if I could handle the northern Idaho climate. Shawn O”Neal, the Student Media adviser at the time, showed me the office and pitched the program to me. He then set me up with the incoming 2014-2015 Editor-in-Chief Kaitlyn Krasselt, who spoke with me several times on the phone and showed me around Moscow upon my return.
These are the people who make a difference. UI is filled with them, but I believe Student Media has some of the best.
Surrounded by hard-working and passionate people, our staff is learning invaluable journalism and life skills at a microcosm of reality at a professional organization.
Journalism serves an important role in communities around the world, including at UI. Journalists are watchdogs, holding people in power accountable, but newspapers are also a place for information and entertainment.
The world of journalism is evolving and so is The Argonaut. Contrary to popular belief, journalism is not dead, although its print component is shrinking over time. There will always be a place for journalism in the world and The Argonaut is evolving to accommodate the digital world.
I”m thankful Wolfe and the UI community of 1898 saw its importance and support still exists today.
I know that in five years or multiple decades, I will be able to look back at my time at The Argonaut with fond memories and know that it set me up for success. For that, I”m forever grateful.
Katelyn Hilsenbeck can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Katelyn_mh