I’ve biked past it many times. From a distance, I saw the letters on the windows slowly becoming clearer: Cursor. Since Monday, I’ve been on the other side of the glass, inside the editorial office in the Auditorium. It’s my first week as editor-in-chief and I’m looking out over the Dommel. On the other side of the water lies Fontys University of Applied Sciences. For the past few years, I’ve worked there as an editor for Bron, Cursor’s younger sibling.

So I was already familiar with educational journalism and the dynamics of an independent medium within higher education before I arrived at Cursor. I’ve followed the developments after the breach of trust between the Executive Board and the editorial staff with great interest. After all, Cursor is not the only independent medium in higher education that occasionally clashes with its Executive Board. There has also been some friction at Bron in recent years.

Unique position

Of course, these media outlets hold a unique position. The editors are employed by the university or university of applied sciences, and their employer issues their publications. The same is true for Cursor. The editors’ role is to make knowledge, information and opinions available to students and staff on the TU/e campus. Cursor only serves its target audience and is not a public relations vehicle for the university, nor is it a promotion platform for any particular interest.

At least, that’s what is stated in the current editorial statute. Before the breach of trust, this was not as clearly defined, and both the Board and the editors tended to follow their own interests and principles. And that’s the crux of the matter. It creates a high risk of friction, especially when it comes to critical reporting on the university’s actions.

The new editorial statute establishes journalistic independence as the foundation of the relationship between the Board and the editorial staff. At the same time, the editors must adhere to journalistic principles such as objectivity, careful investigation of sources and facts and taking into account arguments of all parties involved. In addition, a new editorial board has been established to oversee the implementation of and compliance with the editorial statute.

Clear agreements

Those are clear agreements. They allow for an independent university press, which is essential within the academic debate. Still, I’m not under the illusion that the Board and editors will never clash again. It’s entirely possible that they will at one point, as the editorial team focuses on the interests and informational needs of the TU/e community – not those of the Board. However, Cursor’s role and its relationship with TU/e are now clearly defined, and that makes a great difference. 

Still, I think more is needed to ensure a successful relationship between the publisher and the editorial staff. In addition to agreements and principles, it’s important to keep communicating and be open to each other’s points of view. Good journalism should, at times, cause friction. And now, that is actually possible. Because if there’s mutual trust, most problems can be worked through together. And if that’s ever not the case, we have the editorial statute and editorial board to fall back on.

Indispensable source of information

Safeguarding journalistic independence and diligence is not my only duty as editor-in-chief. My predecessor Roy op het Veld made an excellent start with a new editorial vision and formula. By returning to the basics, I can work with the editorial staff to continue building professional journalism within TU/e.

My goal is for Cursor to be at the forefront of news coverage and an indispensable source of information for the TU/e community, as well as a place where people turn for inspiring stories, thought-provoking columns, and human interest pieces. To that end, the editorial staff keeps a finger on the pulse of our departments, research institutes and services, and our editors actively interact with the community on campus. We want to know what’s on people’s minds and let our curiosity guide us.

Questions behind the news

Important developments are taking place now and in the coming years that require the editorial staff’s attention. Think, for example, of the budget cuts, the growth ambitions from project Beethoven, the shortage of student housing and the discussion surrounding internationalization. These are developments that have a major impact on students, academic staff and support staff and they highlight the importance of Cursor. The editorial staff asks the questions behind the news and finds out what these (and other) developments mean for our community.

Take a recent event like the cyber-attack. Above all, this is a terrible incident for the university. But at the same time, it presents the editorial staff with an opportunity to shed light on an event that affects and engages people from both inside and outside the university and to provide the audience with news, background stories, analyses, interviews and columns for deeper understanding and insight.

Exciting environment

Back to my new workplace on this side of the Dommel. After a 25-year career in fields including daily journalism, agricultural journalism, and as a freelance (chief) editor, I have been focusing on educational journalism for several years now. Every time I delve into a new sector, it amazes me to see how much is happening. The same goes for higher education.

I think TU/e is an incredibly exciting environment where groundbreaking research takes place and important innovations are brought to life that are economically and socially relevant. It’s also a veritable breeding ground for technological talent and start-ups, located right at the heart of the Brainport region. And as such, it’s an ideal place for me: a wordsmith at heart with a soft spot for science.

As editor-in-chief, I’m open to a good conversation, tips and ideas. Please feel free to drop by the editorial office in the Auditorium or send me an email: m.verbiesen@remove-this.tue.nl. I look forward to meeting you.