Andrew Mendez, incoming editor-in-chief of The Nevada Sagebrush, has big plans for the historic university newspaper
Rising senior Andrew Mendez was elected editor-in-chief of the University of Nevada, Reno’s historic newspaper, The Nevada Sagebrush on Friday, Feb. 19. Newsrooms across the country have undergone changes due to the impact of COVID-19, but Mendez is prepared for the challenge.
The Nevada Sagebrush is an organization with a long history and lasting impact at the university. Since 1893, the independently-owned and student-operated newspaper has covered campus news critically and unapologetically, prioritizing delivering information to students.
In spite of pressing circumstances, Mendez has lofty aspirations for the award-winning publication; his goals include increasing ADA accessibility, maintaining a sustainable Spanish section and continuing as a digital-only publication. Mendez sat down over Zoom to answer some questions about the future of The Sagebrush.
Q: How would you say that your experience coming into The Sagebrush has bonded you with UNR and the importance that The Sagebrush has as such a legacy organization on campus?
A: It just was something coming in, I really didn’t know a lot about UNR and it was something where they assigned me stories, as opposed to me pitching a story. But it helped me get connected and helped me grow this diverse group of connections I have. … Honestly, The Sagebrush is just so connected with this university. You can’t have UNR without having The Nevada Sagebrush here covering it. I couldn’t imagine the university without The Sagebrush, and The Sagebrush without the university. As a reporter on The Sagebrush and as a person that’s going to be the incoming editor-in-chief, we are connected with the university in one shape or form. Even if we’re reporting critically on it we’re still a part of it, and I think everyone on staff can say that.
Q: So due to COVID-19, you watched the paper make a big transition from printing weekly to printing three times a semester and becoming a mostly-digital paper. How do you feel about all these changes, and what are your biggest takeaways?
A: The transition to print … essentially once a month — I think it was the smartest move Olivia [Ali] could have made at the time. … For me, every print issue we produce is something so valuable, where I’m emotionally invested in it. Because it’s my work, it’s the staff’s work, it’s the staff that I love and cherish times with at those deadlines. … Majority of the publications across the nation and even in the state transition to digital-first, print-second because that’s where people were going for news, people were going to our website as opposed to picking up the paper.
My biggest takeaway is still publishing … three times a semester, is even too much. … That’s money we could be using somewhere else. So as the incoming editor, one of my proposals is actually to cut print entirely and make us a digital-only publication. … And I think it’s also for me just the smartest way for us to save money during the time of the pandemic, where ad sales have gone down. I think that’s my biggest takeaway, to help save us financially but to also find a new way to engage with our audience.
Q: What are some of your goals for The Sagebrush as an organization?
A: One of my biggest goals is definitely making the website more ADA accessible. … I think the more accessible we are in our coverage to different communities who may be hearing or viewing impaired — if we’re able to connect with them better in a way that’s more accessible and appropriate for them, that is the best way The Sagebrush can go. … Making the website more ADA accessible is definitely one of my top goals.
Another goal of mine is also increasing Spanish content as the current Spanish editor. … I would like to increase relationships and partnerships within local media here. … As reporters, we have to be able to reach our audience and know who our audience is, and if we’re not connecting with them in the appropriate way, … we’re not doing our job as reporters in informing our community, which is why I started the Spanish section and which is why I want it to keep growing and continuing.
Q: Before we wrap up this interview, is there anything else that you’d like to add or be known just for the record?
A: I would like to encourage any and all J-School students, or any university student, for that matter, who is interested in writing and going to be a reporter to get involved with The Sagebrush. Get involved with this family … find your place here at the university. The Sagebrush for me has definitely been that place, and I know it can be a place for a lot of other people.