With the start of every school year come new challenges and subsequently new goals. The Minuteman would like to take this opportunity to share with you, our trusted readers, what we hope to accomplish in the upcoming school year.

Ever since the paper made the transition from paper copies to online in 2010, there has been a noticeable drop in our readership. We have tried every tactic from congesting your Facebook newsfeeds with shared links to handing out printed preview articles. However while readership has begun to increase, we still question whether it will ever return to previous levels. It is impossible for us to ignore the constant community chatter – “why did the paper move online” and “no one even reads the paper.”  This year the editorial board has ventured to try out new ways of getting you off of your Facebook, Edmodo, or Canvas and onto The Minuteman.

Often times at the Academy our workload seems so overwhelming, that we find refuge on websites like Facebook, Netflix, and Twitter. However, The Minuteman offers an outlet of entertainment with sections such as Arts & Entertainment, Humor, and Sports. Why not preface any online shopping by reading an article about the latest fall trends? Or before updating your fantasy football team check out an article predicting the results of this fall’s football season?  This year the Editorial Board has made a conscious effort to pick articles that are relatable to every Newark Academy student, both in the classroom and out.

At the beginning of the school year, Mr. Parlin challenged the Newark Academy community to stay informed about international affairs. As you explore different outlets to learn about the surrounding world, consider The Minuteman. Each article about international affairs is not only tailored to Newark Academy students, but also aims at highlighting the connection with international events to our tight-knit community in Livingston New Jersey.

Going online has allowed the paper to access an abundance of new technological features. One of our largest goals this year will be to transform the newspaper from a one-way stream of information into a conversation with the community. Unlike any print newspaper, the online editions of The Minuteman have a comment option that we hope will spark discussion among students and faculty alike. On a similar note, in each set more and more articles will be accompanied by polls that will further increase readers’ interactions with The Minuteman.

We hope that as the year progresses you will find the time to browse the paper, engage in discussion, and utilize The Minuteman as a valuable resource. Furthermore we hope that this editorial will serve as a call to action for our readers to either comment or reach out to any member of the Editorial Board in order for us to understand what we could do better.

We wish you all the best this year,

The Minuteman Editorial Board.