Kernel selects Morgan Eads as next editor
March 28, 2014
By Will Wright
The Kentucky Kernel named junior Morgan Eads editor-in-chief for the 2014-15 school year.
Kernel Press Inc. made the decision after interviewing Eads and Judah Taylor, the current opinions editor.
The nonprofit board, comprised of several Kernel alumni, the director of the School of Journalism and the current editor-in-chief, chooses a new editor every year.
“We had two great candidates this year,” said Duane Bonifer, chairman of Kernel Press Inc. “They’re both very thoughtful, introspective people.”
Eads is the current news editor of the Kernel and a journalism junior from Garrard County. She was an intern for the Lexington Herald-Leader last summer, the assistant news editor of the Kernel last spring, and a Kernel reporter in fall 2012.
For the past two years, only one person has run for the position. The fact that two people ran, Bonifer said, shows the quality of past editors.
“We’ve had a string of really good editors,” he said. “The last several editors all were such great editors that they were inspiring to both of the candidates tonight.”
The Kernel changes every year, and Bonifer said with every editor comes a fresh take on the newspaper.
“(The Kernel) takes on the personality of its editor,” Bonifer said. “The structure often stays the same, but the flavor and emphasis changes year to year.”
Eads said she plans to put more emphasis on spot news in the upcoming year.
“One thing that I really want to tackle is making sure breaking news is a priority,” she said. “The big thing that I want to do is make sure the Kernel is the go-to place for students to find out what is going on.”
In addition, Eads plans on building up the Kernel’s investigative stories.
“A big responsibility of the Kernel is holding the university accountable,” she said. “I want to make sure we know what’s going on behind the scenes.”
Rachel Aretakis, editor-in-chief, said Eads had multiple good ideas on how to grow the paper.
“Morgan is one of our best reporters and best editors,” Aretakis said. “She loves the Kernel.”