Ryland Bickley and The Commuter Team Gear Up for 2024-25 at LBCC

Ryland Bickley leads The Commuter team into the 2024-25 school year at LBCC. Earlier this summer, Bickley was appointed editor-in-chief of Linn-Benton's student-run magazine and website. 

Ryland Bickley

Bickley succeeds Ryan Janowitz, who graduated this spring along with wrapping up his year in charge of The Commuter. Last year, Bickley served as The Commuter's sports editor. 

He and his team are looking forward to a great year, already having produced two editions of The Commuter's monthly magazine, including the Welcome Day edition that will be available around campus starting this week. 

Bickley is from Harrisburg and earned his high school diploma online from the Oregon Charter Academy, where he also served as editor-in-chief of The Current newspaper. Long before he began covering Roadrunners athletics, Bickley has been a sports writer the last five years for SB Nation/Vox, primarily covering his favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his first year with The Commuter, he earned first- and third-place awards for his sports reporting and writing in the regional journalism competition sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Association of Journalism Educators. 

Bickley is dual-enrolled at Oregon State University and is majoring in communications with a minor in journalism. He also is involved in LBCC's Civil Discourse Program, which promotes campus dialogue that enhances understanding among individuals with diverse viewpoints in an open and respectful environment.

In his application to lead The Commuter, he wrote to LBCC's Student Publications Committee: "I take The Commuter’s motto of 'for the students, by the students' seriously. I believe we have the responsibility of informing students about their school and community, showcasing student and local talent, and representing LBCC with a quality product."

He added, "I would like to expand our range of content, adding columnists, articles that focus on local history or the history of LBCC, lifestyle articles, more school news, editorial pieces, and more local features. I want the magazine and website to be full of fresh, creative, and informative content."

The college’s Student Publications Committee is composed of LB students, staff and faculty who annually interview applicants and appoint The Commuter’s top editor.

Those who would like to contact Bickley or get involved at The Commuter are encouraged to email the staff at commuter@linnbenton.edu. See The Commuter's website at LBCommuter.com.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter’s faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu. 

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Ryan Janowitz Appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Commuter for 2023-24

Ryan Janowitz

 The Commuter has a new editor-in-chief, Ryan Janowitz.

The Student Publications Committee appointed Janowitz after an interview with applicants on June 5. Janowitz succeeds Leah Biesack, who is now a student at OSU.

Janowitz has worked as The Commuter’s marketing director this school year. He will take over immediately as the student news operation’s person in charge.

As marketing director, Janowitz has worked with editors in production and distribution of the monthly magazine, managed the operation’s advertising and marketing efforts, updated The Commuter’s website, and produced and distributed The Commuter’s weekly newsletter.

Janowitz, a visual communications major at LBCC, will have the benefit of leading several staffers — editors, reporters, photographers, designers — who plan to return for a second year at LBCC beginning this fall.

In his application for the position, Janowitz wrote, “The Commuter’s responsibility to the school is to support the student body and the faculty to the best of our ability. We celebrate their achievements, their uniqueness, and creativity, we keep them informed on campus news and events, we provide entertainment, information, advice and encouragement.”

One of the points Janowitz emphasized in talking with the interview committee is his commitment to highlighting the outstanding work and successes of LBCC’s students, both current and recent graduates.

“I’d like to put more of an emphasis on student projects and events. We have a lot of talent in our student body and I want the Commuter to be a platform where they can display what they’re working on and what makes them unique.”

In addition to appointing his staff, Janowitz already is at work planning stories, photos and other content for The Commuter’s website, a summer edition, and the back-to-school Welcome Day edition of the newspaper/magazine, which readers can look for on campus the week of Sept. 20.

The college’s Student Publications Committee is composed of LB students, staff and faculty who annually interview applicants and appoint The Commuter’s top editor.

Those who would like to contact Janowitz or get involved at The Commuter are encouraged to email commuter@linnbenton.edu or ryan.janowitz.2994@mail.linnbenton.edu.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter’s faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu. To see more work by students in LBCC’s journalism program, see their blogs at robpriewe.blogspot.com.

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Leah Biesack Serves as Commuter Editor-in-Chief for 2022-23 School Year

LBCC student Leah Biesack has begun her tenure as this year's editor-in-chief of The Commuter, the college's award-winning student newspaper and website. 

Biesack was appointed this spring by the college's Student Publications Committee, a group of LB students, staff and faculty who annually interview applicants and appoint the newspaper's top editor. Biesack succeeded Dakota Gange, who's term as editor-in-chief concluded with publication of the newspaper's last issue of the 2021-22 school year in June. 

As editor-in-chief, Biesack is responsible for pulling together the newspaper staff for the school year and takes the lead in setting the direction for The Commuter's website, social media, newsletter and printed editions of the newspaper. Over the past two years Leah has been a writer and reporter for The Commuter, and last year served as the Arts & Entertainment Editor. 

In her application to the Student Publications Committee, Biesack wrote, "The Commuter has a responsibility, first and foremost, to our student body and campus audience (teachers, faculty, staff). It’s our job to showcase the various events and latest news, as well as highlight our student voices. It’s important to feature the different departments and organizations of the college, as they are our foundation. The Commuter is by students, and very much for our students. 

"That said, I believe it’s also crucial to expand our coverage to the surrounding communities. LBCC has a high percentage of non-traditional students (myself included) who likely have lives that aren’t centered around campus life. I feel proud of how The Commuter has stepped up to cover our local community life and seamlessly blend it into our vibrant campus life."

Biesack encourages students, staff and faculty to reach out to the newspaper with questions and suggestions for coverage in the year ahead. She can be contacted through the newspaper by emailing commuter@linnbenton.edu.

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Dakota Gange set to take over as next editor-in-chief at The Commuter

LBCC journalism student Dakota Gange will be the next editor-in-chief of The Commuter, the college's award-winning student newspaper. 

Dakota Gange

The college's Student Publications Committee appointed Gange on May 27. She will succeed current Editor-in-Chief Katie Littlefield, who will conclude her tenure as the newspaper's top editor with the last edition of the school year June 2. 

Over this past year, Gange has served as the newspaper's Student Voice Editor, highlighting various issues facing students, from the pandemic and homelessness, to paying for college and sustainability. She also has collaborated with LB's student government to highlight the advocacy efforts of other student leaders on campus.

In appointing Gange, members of the Student Publications Committee applauded the enthusiasm that Gange brought to her interview for the position, her successes this past year as Student Voice Editor, and expressed confidence that she can build on the success that Littlefield and her team had this school year. The committee is comprised of LBCC students, staff and faculty. 

In applying to be editor-in-chief in the coming year, Gange told the committee, "Writing is my way of bettering the world around me, myself included. It’s how I further reach the public, and further grow myself. Through this career, I can share the stories of those who otherwise might not have a voice, or go unheard. It’s the truth I’ve always sought after, and a way to reach out to others. I want to hear people; I want to listen to their truths, and I want to communicate with them. I thrive on these opportunities."

On the role of the newspaper, she wrote, "We have a duty here to report on important topics revolving around LBCC and the surrounding community. It’s our job to find the truth out there, and bring it forth to the light. We exist to better understand, inform, and report on various topics for our readers."

She credited Littlefield with initiating the kind of journalism she wants to continue at The Commuter: "Littlefield has shined a light on the importance and involvement of the student voice/body, and I passionately plan to continue her work/wish. Through finding student stories, we can better listen to their needs. This year we have had a paper full of diversity, and I plan to continue that through the student voice."

As editor-in-chief, Gange will lead a team of reporters, photographers, editors, graphic designers and others who produce The Commuter, which publishes weekly editions during the school year in addition to its website, a weekly newsletter and various social media. 

Those who would like to contact Gange or get involved at the newspaper are encouraged to email to commuter@linnbenton.edu or dakota.gange.2771@mail.linnbenton.edu.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter's faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu. To see more work by students in LBCC's journalism program, see their blogs at robpriewe.blogspot.com.

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Katie Littlefield Appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Commuter for 2020-21

LBCC student Katie Littlefield will be the next editor-in-chief of The Commuter, the college's award-winning student newspaper.

Katie Littlefield

Littlefield was appointed Wednesday by the college's Student Publications Committee, which is comprised of LBCC students, faculty and staff. She succeeds McKenna Christmas, who took over as editor-in-chief spring term, leading The Commuter during the college's unprecedented lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Littlefield, entering her second year at LBCC, has had a regular byline in the paper attached to her work as a reporter, photographer and editor.

During her interview with the publications committee, she emphasized her desire to reach out to other parts of the campus, encouraging a wider variety of students and staff to contribute to the weekly newspaper, the LBCommuter website, and its social media platforms.

"LBCC has so many amazing students with great talents that I want to showcase to our whole school," she wrote in her application for editor-in-chief. "I believe that one of the greatest responsibilities The Commuter has is student involvement and appreciation. This has been done very well over the years and I got to witness it first hand while working as managing editor for two terms. I’d like to amplify the voices of LBCC and showcase the hidden talents at this community college."

The responsibilities of The Commuter's editor-in-chief include appointing and managing the newspaper's staff; coordinating the work of the staff, including assigning and editing stories and photos; leading staff meetings and other newspaper activities; and representing the newspaper in the college community.

For more information about getting involved in The Commuter, Littlefield can be contacted at katherine.littlefield.5238@mail.linnbenton.edu or via the newspaper's email at commuter@linnbenton.edu.

For more information about journalism at LBCC, contact The Commuter's faculty adviser, Rob Priewe, at priewer@linnbenton.edu. To see more work by students in LBCC's journalism program, see their blogs at robpriewe.blogspot.com. 

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Commuter Shares First Issue of Spring Term 2020

Check out the first digital issue of the term from the terrific team of Journalism students of The Commuter newspaper at Linn-Benton Community College.

Bravo!

Here's the link. And be sure to check out LBCommuter.com.

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