I’ve been a Herald reporter since the beginning of my life at KAIST. It was the first club I ever joined as a university student, not necessarily thinking of it as a community to be a part of. I simply wanted a way to enhance my writing — to force myself to write regularly — and, sure, make some extra cash while I’m at it. And, since The KAIST Herald is the school’s official English newspaper, I thought it would also be a good way to keep in touch with everything occurring on campus: who’s who, what’s new, and what’s there to do. In my four years at the Herald, it did meet those expectations… but it was also so much more.

We at the Herald, however, would be the first to admit that our reach isn’t as big as we’d like it to be. Despite having our own website and dozens of newsstands all over campus, there are still many KAIST students who aren’t aware of our existence and purpose. And even for those who do know of us, many don’t read our papers anyway. And it’s hard to blame them (and I would assume you, dear reader, are not one of “them” since you’re reading this right now) because nobody’s obligated to read a newspaper. If we want to grow our readership, we have to give people a reason to pick up our papers and read our articles.

I’ll be honest: many of my own articles aren’t “must-reads” for the KAIST community. I spent most of my time at the Herald in the Culture division, where I wrote a lot of reviews and analyses of movies, TV shows, music, books, and other cultural phenomena. These are articles you could read in any other news outlet, or even anybody’s self-published blog. I’ve loved writing them — I always found a topic I was passionate about — but I knew they weren’t exactly the most significant contribution to the KAIST community. Those are usually found in the other sections of our paper: News, Society, International, and Feature. If there is a reason why KAIST students should read the Herald, you would find them on those pages.

In truth, some of my favorite articles to write were in those sections — articles related to the experience of different members of the KAIST community. Articles that matter — that could potentially make a difference. Features on the struggle for gender equality in the university, the continuing effort to make the campus more accessible for those with disabilities, and the difficulties of online learning during the first semester of the pandemic. Interviews with an international alumnus about his experience and career, a professor who donated to the cause of inclusive development in the university, and the head of the KAIST queer club EQUEL.

I’m not just a Herald reporter, either; I’m also a Herald reader. Every month, I’m amazed at the work of my fellow reporters. And it’s not all “serious” stuff, too. We’ve had articles that are equal parts interesting and informative: where else would you find guides to the best restaurants near campus, or the best places to visit in Daejeon? I always look forward to reading what other members of the club are writing about; that has been one of the best parts of being in the Herald for four years.

In the age of social media and the Internet, school publications have become less significant and less impactful. Still, I think we perform an indispensable service for members of the KAIST community. No one else knows a community better than the people in it; no one else can understand the priorities, trends, and challenges at KAIST except its students. Perhaps the medium of newsprint is outdated; admittedly, we have a responsibility to go where our audience goes, and we haven’t quite adjusted yet. But our purpose — to provide a sense of belonging to our readers — remains the greatest justification for our continued existence.
It has been a privilege to write for The KAIST Herald these past four years. It has been a joy to have been given a voice and platform to express myself, to entertain, and to inform. And, most of all, dear readers, it has been an honor to represent KAIST, to express your concerns, and to have spoken on your behalf — and on behalf of the rest of the KAIST community who may not be our readers just yet but, if we do our jobs right, will be soon enough.