This letter from the Arts & Entertainment Editor was printed in the fourth print issue of the 2023-24 academic year.
“News” can be such a daunting word. In the era of internet doomscrolling, it seems like every story you read is about how close society is to self-destructing. But don’t get me wrong, I think it’s important that these stories are told. The journalist is the watchdog, informing the public on what they need to know to, essentially, survive—but I also think the journalist can be a catalyst for change and a storyteller, and not all stories we journalists write need to be so scary.
I’ve devoted most of my life to the arts. I’ve been on stages since middle school, and without theater and cinema, I don’t know where I’d be today. As the Arts & Entertainment editor for this paper, I’ve been given the opportunity to combine my love of journalism with my love of arts and culture.
I’ve interviewed celebrities and local artists alike and I think every artist’s story is worth telling. When there’s so much darkness in the world, art is a shining light at the end of the tunnel. It’s been around since the beginning of humanity, it even survived the Dark Ages, and it’s thriving today more than ever before.
As I near the end of my letter, I’m ending it with a call to action, as so many great stories end. Do me a favor. At some point this week, put the phone down and go to a movie, or a play, a museum, or a concert. Enjoy art. Just forget about your to-do list and take it all in. Then, check out some of The Cauldron’s arts and entertainment pieces and features, because this team does such an incredible job at telling stories that are worth telling.
Kasey Sheridan, A&E Editor
