The Kernel Media Board of Directors has named Giana Gallo and Reaghan Chen as the next Kentucky Kernel and KRNL editors-in-chief.
Gallo, a junior broadcast journalism and communication double major, currently serves as the Kentucky Kernel’s broadcast and podcast editor, being the first to ever hold these editor positions.
Chen, a junior studying print journalism and marketing, previously served as the Kentucky Kernel’s opinion editor and KRNL Magazine’s managing editor. Currently, Chen is a lifestyle writer for KRNL Magazine, as she said she’s been studying abroad in Florence, Italy during the Spring semester.
Both Gallo and Chen said their love for their outlets started early on in their college careers, as they both have been involved with Kernel Media since their sophomore year.
After working with the Kentucky Kernel for two years, Gallo said the editor-in-chief position was always something she dreamed of, saying her appointment felt surreal.
“It just feels like a fever dream,” Gallo said. “I’m just so thankful and honored that again, the board put their faith in me to lead the Kernel team.”
For Chen, she said she has been “obsessed” with KRNL since she joined the outlet, and aimed to grow the magazine’s presence at the University of Kentucky.
“I want everybody on UK’s campus to know who KRNL is and what we stand for,” Chen said.
Chen said she was excited to not only lead the KRNL team but to also work with those a part of the publication.
“Being editor is just being able to work with so many amazing people and represent so many amazing people in KRNL,” Chen said. “KRNL is not just a one-person show, it never has been and it never will be.”
Gallo said during her time as editor-in-chief, she planned to emphasize the importance of multimedia coverage, as well as encourage reporters to try out different reporting mediums.
“Another one of my goals that I think the board really appreciated is my confidence in making everyone that walks in the Kernel a multimedia journalist,” Gallo said. “Jobs and newsrooms are looking for people to have more experience than just one thing.”
The shift toward more in-depth multimedia coverage was something Student Media Coordinator, Bryce McNeil, said he was particularly looking forward to, saying he believed the outlets’ multimedia capabilities will continue to grow.
“I think that we’ve really stepped up our game as far as providing news via video, providing analysis via podcast, and I think you’re going to see more of that in the next two to three years,” McNeil said.
Throughout the application process, McNeil and Student Media Advisor, Ryan Craig, said they were both impressed with the quality of applicants, with Craig saying he hopes to continue building upon Kernel Media’s success.
“We had very, very good candidates for the job,” Craig said. “It’s a credit to the foundation that’s been built, that the Kentucky Kernel and KRNL magazine can have such good candidates for the board to select from.”
