DeWig named 2023-24 Editor-In-Chief for USI’s student newspaper, The Shield

Alyssa DeWig, a University of Southern Indiana junior majoring in journalism, will serve as the Editor-in-Chief for The Shield, USI’s independent student newspaper, for the 2023-24 academic year.

As Editor-in-Chief, DeWig will be responsible for the overall operations of the media outlet. She will plan and conduct weekly editorial board and budget meetings, determine the content of the website, social media channels, and email newsletter and meet with the Sales and Marketing Director to set editorial content and advertising goals.

“Working for The Shield has been the highlight of my college experience, and I would like to make the most of it,” said DeWig. “A good Editor-in-Chief needs a balance of hard work, determination and compassion. I always strive to continue learning and working hard, but I am also kind, and I carry my charisma into my journalism by focusing on ethics. Utilizing ethics and morals in journalism is key because anyone can be a good writer, but not just anyone can truly care about the audience they write for. My compassion allows me to write in a meaningful and truly impactful way, and these skills will carry over to The Shield staff.”

Prior to her appointment as Editor-in-Chief, DeWig has served as News Editor for The Shield since March 2022. She is also Lead Editor for Unmasked, a COVID-19 retrospective magazine published by The Shield. She was named Shieldster of the Month in September 2022. In addition to her work with The Shield, DeWig has been involved with the Psychology Club, serving as both Vice President (2020-21) and Co-President (2021-22). She was awarded the Engaged Student in Journalism award from the USI College of Liberal Arts Media and Communications Department in 2023.

DeWig’s primary goals for The Shield include ensuring weekly meetings contain relevant resources and examples for staff to follow. “I want the staff to feel trained and get the most out of their time at The Shield,” she said. “I will also heavily emphasize ethics when producing content. I want the staff to not only write to produce a portfolio for job experience, but also to appreciate journalism and handle this job with care. Writing for the USI community is not only about educating them, but also making sure we are taking care of those we interview and report on.”