While waiting for this week’s articles to trickle in, I was doing research. In the dusty annals of the Reporter archives, behind a locked door and a questionable mattress, I was reading Editor’s Notes, trying to figure out what to write. It’s nothing new. Every editor in chief before me has had to figure out their first message to their readers.

Some introduced themselves and told the story of their meteoric rise to power. Others hid from the problem, pretended they’d been doing this every week. I don’t pretend to know what the best approach is, but I did notice one thing that a lot of editors had in common. They were concerned with being irrelevant.

The worst thing a publication can be is to be disconnected with its audience. Right now, across the country, we’re seeing the slow death march of the printed word. Newspapers are filing for bankruptcy or changing format, magazines are filling most of their pages with advertisements, and everyone is clamoring for web presence. They are struggling to stay connected with their readership.

While I don’t foresee Reporter filing for Chapter 11 anytime soon, I do wonder what would happen if this weren’t a subsidized publication. During winter quarter, we sent out a questionnaire to see just how relevant we are. The results were mixed, as could be expected. From the over 1,500 responses, we received comments ranging from “you’re doing a great job!” to “I want to see better everything, this magazine sucks.”

The important thing is that we’re listening. We’ve been listening and will continue to listen. However, in a windowless office in the basement of the SAU, it’s hard to hear anything. In an attempt to be a trendy, connected publication, we’ve signed up for all those newfangled services. So if you’re too scared to write me a letter or leave a message on Rings, try sending us a text, following us on Twitter (reportermag) or leaving a comment on our website (http://reportermag.com).

My name is Andy Rees and I’ll be your editor in chief for the next 30 issues. Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. Sit back and enjoy the ride. I apologize if you’ve heard this all before. It’s my first day.