INSPIRING DAILY
Her name is on the front page every day, but she feels that she wouldn't be able to put out The University Daily Kansan without the approximately 80 staff members working with her. Michelle Burnhenn-Rombeck didn't have her sights necessarily set on the editor position when she came to the University of Kansas from Washburn Rural High School three years ago, but when interview times were posted last semester, she applied. She felt she could fulfill the need for someone headstrong and with powerful leadership abilities. Her interest in newspapers stems from a 6th-grade career day when she visited the Topeka Capital Journal on the day of the Oklahoma City Bombing. "I got to see some really great journalism and a lot of decision making," she says. "I was inspired that way." Burnhenn-Rombeck has tried to create inspiring stories for the Kansan this semester, such as the series of stories about student housing safety issues. She plans to use these experiences of strong editorial decision making in a newspaper career after she graduates next year.
In addition to taking 12 hours of classes this semester and planning for her wedding, which took place during fall break, BurnhennRombeck works in the newsroom from five- to- 12 hours a day. During this time she holds daily meetings to plan the content of the Kansan, works with reporters and
photographers, talks with administrators and handles mistakes.
Burnhenn-Rombeck is setting goals for next semester, continuing with media convergence, the All Kansas wire service, re-formatting Kansan.com and holding the Kansan reporters to a higher standard of reporting and writing than she feels was previously defined. She will work with the Jayplay editor and staff in the future to continue its path of transformation.
Still, she was surprised when asked for this interview, expressing that the paper itself and the staff are more influential than she. "I don't think I'm anything special," she says. "I think every editor has been an influential person. It's about the reporters, and without them we wouldn't be influential."
Burnhenn-Rombeck's actions are watched and noticed. "No editor is perfect," agrees Malcolm Gibson, Kansan adviser and journalism professor. Perfect no, but definitely influential. "Michelle was really just born a journalist," Gibson says. "She comes into the job with a sense of maturity and an underlying sense of confidence."
The feeling is mutual. Burnhenn-Rombeck listed Gibson as one of the people who has most influenced her during her time at the University. She says she is impressed by how Gibson and other faculty and administration have respected her as a person and a journalist.
—Tabatha Beerbower
3617 Broadway KGMO
(816)751-7222
thursday, november 13, 2003
jayplay 19