Indianapolis Star’s new public engagement editor wants good trouble

“What on the planet is a public engagement editor? Seems like an agitator title.”

Within the sea of nicely needs and congratulatory tweets I obtained after I introduced my new place, this one stood out to me. It’s in all probability as a result of the creator meant agitator pejoratively and thought he would offend me. He needed to intimidate me. He needed to agitate me.

It didn’t work.

As an alternative, I smiled as I assumed in regards to the phrase agitator and the way it applies to my new function as IndyStar’s public engagement editor. I smiled as I spotted I barely acquired my foot within the door, and I’m already doing my job.

My function is to shake issues up and agitate the established order — in our metropolis and at this newspaper.

Following the command of former Congressman John Lewis, I’m right here to make “good hassle” in our metropolis. My activity is to get on the market within the numerous Indianapolis communities and study what tales we’re lacking, what we’re doing nicely and what we have to do higher. We would like group involvement with this newsroom to be at the next degree. Government Editor Bro Krift and I are reimagining this place, and now we have huge concepts, however we’d like you!

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We’d like you to inform us what’s occurring within the metropolis. We actually do.

In response to U.S. Census information, Indianapolis has greater than 800,000 residents. That’s a variety of tales. We need to hear the large tales, and we need to hear the small ones — particularly those you assume are too small to inform broadly. I’ll inform you a secret: These usually are one of the best tales. We’d like you to actively take part in altering our metropolis for one of the best — not higher. I need higher than higher.

And we wish variety. Our demographics are altering as our metropolis continues to develop. Indianapolis is about 29% Black, 3% Asian and 10% Hispanic or Latino. We’d like these tales. This paper must mirror these tales. Nevertheless it’s not nearly variety of race or ethnicity. We’d like tales about folks with various skills, ages, political opinions, non secular views, gender id and sexuality. Let’s not overlook, there’s intersectionality in all of it. Nobody individual is only one factor. We’re a number of issues wrapped up in a single bundle.

That takes me again to the tweet.

It was apparent the creator doesn’t know me. He ought to’ve Googled me earlier than sending that tweet. If he did, he would know I’m not simply intimidated or else I wouldn’t have taken this place. He additionally would know I’m not new to this. Earlier than taking this place, I used to be editor of the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper, the place I wrote a weekly column that pulled few — if any — punches. As well as, he would know I’ve greater than 25 years of expertise on this trade. I’ve been in journalism my entire life, so I’ve extraordinarily powerful pores and skin.

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And I imagine in what we do. I imagine the written phrase has the facility to vary society. It’s the way in which I understand how to impact change. I stand firmly on the ideas of journalistic ethics and integrity, and I imagine many people get into this enterprise as a result of we’re idealists who imagine in making this world a greater place. Sure, it sounds hokey, however I needed to come to grips with the truth that I’m a bit of corny at instances and that’s OK.

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As I mentioned, I’ve been on this trade for a very long time. Whereas I’m not a local of this metropolis, I’ve lived on this metropolis for a very long time, transferring from my hometown of Muncie shortly after graduating from Ball State College approach again within the ’90s. I’m a mother who’s raised two kids on this metropolis. It’s my house, and I’ve seen it change considerably, in methods each good and dangerous.

So, I believe that phrase agitator suits me completely. The extra I give it some thought, the extra I prefer it. I do know I’ll ruffle some feathers. That’s what journalists do. The nice ones are agitators for fact and justice. The nice ones don’t agitate only for sake of agitation. We agitate to “kind a extra good union.” I’m a part of the great ones.

I’ve my cost, and I’m as much as the problem. So, prepare, Indianapolis!

Contact IndyStar Public Engagement Editor Oseye Boyd at oboyd@gannett.com. Observe her on Twitter @oseyetboyd.