New Daily Bruin editor in chief appointed
By Jamie Hsiung
April 14, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Fourth-year history student Kelly Rayburn was selected as the
Daily Bruin’s 2003-04 editor in chief by the Associated
Students of UCLA Communications Board on Monday night.
Rayburn, who is currently the news editor for The Bruin, said he
was very excited to be chosen for the position.
“I’m excited to be leading this group of
people,” he said.
This is the second time Rayburn has applied for the position; he
was not selected last year.
“It was more difficult to make up my mind to apply this
time. … I thought I had good ideas and experience,” Rayburn
said. “But at the end, The Bruin is what I love.”
Rayburn has been with The Bruin for three years, during which he
has advanced from a news reporter, to an assistant news editor to
the news editor.
Former Viewpoint Editor David Burke also applied for the
position but later withdrew his application after Rayburn received
the staff endorsement.
The extensive three-week application process consisted of a
written test, staff endorsement and an interview with the
Communications Board.
The board is in charge of overseeing student media, including
student news magazines, BruinLife, Bruin News and the radio
station.
But with its prestige, the editor position comes with a
price.
Rayburn’s biggest challenge next year will be improving
the various changes The Bruin made to the paper during the past few
years, said current Editor in Chief Cuauhtemoc Ortega.
“Kelly is the ideal candidate to make this happen,”
Ortega said. “He’s been with the paper for the whole
process. He’s the only candidate who’s been through the
whole thought process.”
The Bruin underwent several significant changes this year with
the addition of the finance page, a science and health page and a
weekly arts and entertainment magazine. Redesign has also occurred
with The Bruin’s Web site.
Though the various additions have been beneficial to the paper,
Rayburn isn’t anticipating any further changes to The Bruin.
He explained that constant changes would be inconsistent for
readers.
“We need to tie up loose ends and focus on the best
reporting, the best editing, taking the best photos that we
can,” he said.
Even though Rayburn is currently pleased with the work of the
staff, there is always room for improvement.
Though Rayburn says major outward changes need to stop, he is
considering implementing more sports and arts and entertainment
stories on the front page in order to draw in more readers.
“We just need to focus on what we have and provide our
readers with products they can use, so they can think a little or
start a discussion,” he said.
