Danielle Kreider, an English major with a Print Media concentration, is no stranger to the newsroom. She is the News Editor of Millersville University’s student-run newspaper, The Snapper, and can be seen around campus at almost every event. When hard-hitting news occurs, Danielle is there, notepad in hand, getting the scoop!
How long have you been involved with Millersville University’s newspaper, The Snapper?
For 3 and a half years, ever since I was a Freshman. I started off as a writer, then became Associate News Editor and now I am the News Editor.
What are your responsibilities as Editor of the News section of The Snapper?
My responsibilities include covering all major events that happen on campus or in the community/area, interviewing prominent and important people who come to campus or are apart of MU, covering any breaking news that is happening in Millersville whether it be good or bad, making sure the student body, faculty and staff are well-informed of any major changes happening at MU, assigning stories and events to be covered by my writers, designing the layout for my section of the newspaper, and I also take photographs as well.
What is your favorite part about being involved with a student-run newspaper?
My favorite part of the Snapper is the staff! We have a great group of people who all work very hard and well together. I have some of my best moments in our Snapper office – it’s as though we are one big family!
What’s the worst?
The worst is when I have a writer who will bail out last minute to cover an important event, then it rests on my shoulders to get it covered in a short amount of time and I cannot always be available. It can get quite stressful at times.
What’s your best “Snapper” memory?
My best Snapper memory thus far is our trip to Orlando last fall for the National College Media Convention. It was the best four days I’ve had in quite a long time. I think that is where the Snapper bonding started and it has only continued to progress since then.
In your opinion, what is the most rewarding aspect of running a newspaper?
Definitely all the great people you get to meet along the way, and the people you get to work with.
Do you have a favorite newspaper (other than the Snapper)??
Yes, the New York Times…I’m an avid reader of the Times and working for them one day is my dream job!
Other than spending time in the Snapper office, what are your hobbies?
I enjoy hiking, taking photographs, writing poetry, spending quality time with my family, hanging out with my awesome cat “Maggie Moo,” reading, crocheting, scrapbooking, going to craft shows and events to name a few.
How about favorite books?! What are you reading right now?
Oh I have many favorite books, the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (all of them), the “Harry Potter” series (yes, I am a dork at heart), The Rum Dairy, Pride and Prejudice, A Tale of Two Cities, the Lord of the Rings series (including the Hobbit), Franny and Zooey, The Catcher in the Rye (all time favorite), Of Mice and Men, The Things They Carried, just to name a few. Currently I am reading The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty printed under one of Anne Rice’s pen names.
I hear you have a book coming out over the summer! Could you tell us about it?
It is titled, “The Elephant in the Room- A true account of one family’s inner turmoil.” It is a personal book, I started writing just as a way to vent about my family and growing up. All in all, not to give too much away, it’s about the things that happen that nobody ever talks about, hence the title. I just wanted other members, especially kids and teenagers, of dysfunctional families to know that they are not alone in this and that hopefully they can find some sort of solace and inner-peace by reading this book.
After you graduate, what advice do you have for future news editors?
I’d have to say, don’t allow yourself to get too overwhelmed with this position. Yes, it is a lot of work but have fun with it! Running the news section is a full time job all on it’s own, but it is the most rewarding experience you’ll probably ever have while in college.
Fast-forward five years from now. Where do you hope to be?
Wow, in five years I’ll be 30! Kind of hard to grasp actually, but I’m hoping to have my next two books published by then and possibly be working on a new series by then as well. Also, I hope to have a promising job as a news journalist at a prominent newspaper by that time. Writing is my passion, and I know that’s what I’ll be doing in five years from now!
~I love the freedom I feel when I create something with writing. It’s the way it makes me feel inside to create something beautiful.~