It is a daunting reality that local news in this country is on the decline. With the dire national and international issues we encounter in our interconnected world, it can be easy to overlook what is taking place in our own community in our daily lives. 

This is where The Exponent stands— to bring together our neighbors and share information pertinent to the ways we orient ourselves on campus and in Berea. 

In the past year, our readers have witnessed how “The Exponent” sprang to new heights to serve our neighbors and communities. Starting as an understaffed team of only five members, we quickly grew to become one of the most predominant student-led organizations on campus. 

Through the hard work of our staff within just a few months, we have become an awardwinning newspaper, connecting with community members and keeping our readers informed the way we have desired to do since 1913. 

At the end of Spring 2023, The Exponent executive board ran The Best of Berea Awards, where our readers voted on their favorite parts of Berea, including coffee shops, restaurants and bars. These awards were given to the community members during our Gala and Awards Ceremony, which brought together over 50 members of BW and local businesses in Berea. 

Now, we have the opportunity to enhance what makes “The Exponent” a treasure at BW and beyond campus. 

We will continue forging relationships with our beloved community, while keeping our readers updated through web, print and social media. We are also working to keep up with our generation’s demands toward producing multimedia projects in the form of livestreamed shows, podcasts and short-form videos.  

As students or faculty, and ultimately, residents of Berea, we are not isolated individuals merely occupying these fields for fun or for career development. We are a part of the community, and the work of “The Exponent” has demonstrated this. 

Last year, we were fortunate to have had the opportunity to cover events ranging from the opening of local restaurants on Front Street to the United States Senate debates in Cleveland. This year, we aim to strengthen these efforts. Political issues, the art of the area and BW students’ everyday concerns are all on our radar. Nonetheless, these realities affect each of us differently and hence “The Exponent” will strive to pursue stories from various angles, combine these perspectives and present them in a comprehensive, unbiased manner. 

We hope to continually bring forward an editorial product that will report on local news, highlight prominent issues and entertain you, our dear readers. 

If you want to join our awardwinning team, email us at [email protected].