Letter from the editor: Roots editor excited to serve community

Editor Nick Gibson introduces himself to Coug country

Nick Gibson, Evergreen roots editor

Howdy folks, new guy here. Not only am I the newest addition to The Daily Evergreen’s editorial staff, but I’m new to Pullman, so allow me to introduce myself. 

I’m a Colorado kid who wound up in Pullman after spending the last three years in Vancouver, just outside of Portland, Oregon. I grew up in a rural community, where sweet corn was king and a night out usually meant meeting in an empty parking lot. I love my hometown. But after graduating high school, I knew I needed to leave to pursue opportunities I wouldn’t find back in Montrose, Colorado.

So I packed my bags and made the long drive out to the Pacific Northwest. Once I settled in Vancouver, I enrolled at Clark College, where I earned my associate degree in communication studies earlier this year. While attending Clark, I worked for the student newspaper, The Indy, and eventually served as its editor-in-chief for the 2020-21 school year. 

I have a deep appreciation and passion for journalism, which is what landed me here at WSU. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication is a wonderful place to hone the craft and for decades now, The Daily Evergreen has been a nationally award-winning student newspaper. It was a natural fit. 

I am excited for this opportunity to serve my new community as roots editor this fall. I may be new to town, but I’m not new to this journalism thing. I bring with me a good amount of experience in the field, which I’ll use to report on the stories you care about and the information you need. 

During my time in Vancouver, I was fortunate enough to work as a summer intern for The Columbian, Southwest Washington’s newspaper of record. I wrote on a wide range of issues, from a father who built a memorial to Washingtonians lost to COVID-19 to the death of the oldest apple tree in the Northwest. 

In July 2020, I had the privilege of being selected as one of five budding journalists to participate in the NPR Next Generation Radio Project, in partnership with Oregon Public Broadcasting. I worked with a team of radio professionals to produce a touching piece on a furloughed chef volunteering her time to feed those in need in Portland. If everything goes according to plan, that will not be the last time I work in public broadcasting. 

As the roots editor, I’m here to serve you. It is important to me that our coverage serves all aspects of our diverse community, especially those historically underserved by the media. I believe the people at the center of our stories is what makes journalism so worthwhile. It is an honor to tell their stories, and I acknowledge that every day.

Now that you know a little more about me, it is my hope that I will get to know you one day. Please reach out if you have a story to tell or a voice that needs to be amplified.