As we get started ...

I'll be raising a lot of "what if" questions in these posts, and would encourage all of you to do the same. Don't panic if you see what looks like an incredibly stupid idea. It doesn't mean the Star is adopting it. This blog is just a collective thinking process where no idea is too lame to share.

Suggestions for improving the blog are most welcome.

Here's some background about the Star today: It is a 16,000-circulation campus newspaper, a Web site and an online radio station. All components are run completely by about 200 students and all are located in NIU's Campus Life Building. The Star covers news from NIU, DeKalb, Sycamore and surrounding areas. It subscribes to The Associated Press for non-local stories, photos and graphics.

Maria Krull and I are the only professional staffers - Maria as the business adviser and me as the news adviser. We also employ a graduate assistant, Deanna Cabinian, as NS Radio Station Manager. The editor in chief this year is Derek Wright.

The Star consistently wins national and state awards for reporting, photography, design, editing and its online entities. But, like so many other newspaper companies, we are concerned about declining readership and advertising revenues. Our Web site is in a period of transition and our radio station is still in the formative stages. So, we view this as an ideal time to talk about exactly what role those products should play in the Star's media presence.