Navigating the News
As editor-in-chief of The Concordian, Annie Weier ’20 helps student journalists develop as storytellers and voice Cobbers’ stories.
Annie Weier ’20, Shakopee, Minn.
Majors/Minor: Heritage and Museum Studies, Environmental Studies; German
Please tell us about yourself.
I love coffee, dogs, and adventures. I’m a storyteller and a writer, and I’m always looking for new ways to tell stories. “Night at the Museum” and “National Treasure” are unironically two of my favorite movies (I also really love “How to Train Your Dragon”). I could spend days in a museum because – while I know that there’s much of history that we may never know – we can still learn so much from what we do know. I’m ambitious, creative, and hardworking, so I’m constantly searching for opportunities to challenge myself or gain a new experience.
Can you give us some background on what The Concordian is?
The Concordian is a platform to voice the stories and issues of the Concordia community from all corners of campus. While we are a college publication, we’re also a student organization as well, so we are able to provide a unique perspective on interests and events on campus and around the world.
Can you talk about your history with The Concordian and what motivated you to apply for editor-in-chief?
I had considered writing for The Concordian during my freshman year, but ultimately I did not. I took the leap my sophomore year and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. I began my career as a variety writer, covering art, theatre, books, and the occasional event. Last year, I continued to write but had the opportunity to edit the variety section and mentor new writers while I was interning in Washington, D.C., at the National Museum of American History as part of the LCWS program. I had been thinking about applying for editor-in-chief because I had ideas and concepts I wanted to pursue, but I still wasn’t sure. Then last year’s editor encouraged me to apply and I did. The rest, as they say, is history.
What does your current role entail and what are your favorite aspects?
My role as editor entails a little bit of everything. In addition to completing final edits on all articles, I direct layout for the physical copies, manage the website and social media, search for opportunities for the staff to further their journalistic interests, field questions from writers, editors, and the community, distribute the paper throughout campus, and any other duties that fall into my purview. I love hearing others’ stories and I’m privileged to help tell them and provide the space to share them. Another one of my favorite things is having the opportunity to collaborate with the journalists on staff to improve their skills and strengths, then watch them become more confident as the year goes on.
Do you have any favorite classes or professors who have helped you grow as an individual or editor?
This is so hard to narrow down – every class and every professor has helped me grow in different ways. My advisor, Lisa Sjoberg, has been there for me every single step of the way and has encouraged me to pursue my ambitions, from interning at the Smithsonian to working on the restitution of 600-year-old German scrolls currently housed in our archives. Erin Hemme Froslie, The Concordian faculty advisor, has been a huge support in the ideas and changes that I’ve made to the paper this year as well.
Do you have a favorite place to study on campus?
I can usually be found in The Maize working on homework or one of my many side projects (the close proximity to the Coffee Stop is ideal). But if it’s finals week or I need to focus, I’ll definitely be hidden in the library.
Published April 2020