Imprint Publications has been at the core of student publications at the University of Waterloo for over 37 years: providing up-to-date coverage of issues and events students care about in and around campus.
Our volunteers may start out with varying degrees of interest in and knowledge of journalism, but by the end of their time at Imprint they always take with them new skills in graphics, editing, photography, writing, print layout, and much more. We pride ourselves in not only delivering news, but also in providing professional development to the students we serve.
The awards the newspaper has won and the volunteers who have gone on to use their newfound skills in their careers are constant validations of this paper’s success. In 2013, Imprint added four more Ontario Community Newspapers Association awards to the many others it has won over the years: first place in General Excellence for College/University, first place in Student News Writing, second place in Student Feature Writing, and third place for Best College/University Newspaper Website.
Having impacted hundreds of thousands of students and welcomed dozens of volunteers every semester, we are proud of what we have accomplished.
Despite these many successes, we recognize that the industry is going through a radical transformation, and if we are to survive this epic shift, we must look forward with purpose and drive. In consultation with our many stakeholders, we embarked on the process of leveraging the best of our past and present to address the changing needs and ample opportunities of the future.
This plan outlines a vision for Imprint Publications that can take us to the next level—we have created goals for every aspect of the organization to collaboratively advance the work that supports our mission. All of these goals are framed by the need to balance navigating the continuing challenges of a tight financial environment, while still leveraging opportunities to our advantage. We believe, with this plan, Imprint will become the primary choice for students in hearing and discovering campus news and controversies for all of Waterloo’s campuses, and ultimately, continue to give the students of the University of Waterloo a high-calibre experience with media.
Working together we have the potential to create a stronger Imprint Publications with a bright future: one that is ready to take on the many challenges this changing landscape will undoubtedly throw at us. We will come out the other side of this transformation stronger, and better able to serve our audience, for having survived through this difficult time in our industry.
Gabriela Grant, Michelle Sterba, Jeremy Gilchrist, Elizabeth McFaul, and Jesse McGinnis;
Imprint Publications, Board of Directors 2014-2015.
