As a freshman, State News rookie reporter Kevin Hardy would run back and forth from the newsroom in order to make his deadline - literally.
"It was a pair of Nikes that got me to and from the city council meetings," he said. "When news breaks there is an adrenaline rush - I'd write my stories panting sometimes."
It is that dedication and aggressiveness with which Hardy, now a journalism junior, will lead The State News next year as editor in chief.
Hardy will replace current Editor in Chief Jeremy W. Steele, who expressed his confidence in the paper's new leader.
"When it comes to planning things out and making new efforts to improve the paper, I can't think of a better person to be in charge," said Steele, a journalism senior.
Hardy began working at The State News in the fall of 1999 after acting as editor in chief of the student newspaper at East Kentwood High School in Kentwood. At The State News, he has held semester-long positions as managing editor, associate sports editor, city editor, opinion editor, East Lansing reporter and general assignment reporter.
Hardy has also held four professional internships - at the Lansing State Journal, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Jackson Citizen-Patriot and The Detroit News.
"Putting out a newspaper is a learning process," Hardy said. "You want to make sure that the paper is good, but staff members must also be prepared. People are often so caught up in putting out a paper every day that they don't pay attention to the people who are in it."
Hardy's goals as editor in chief will include improving coverage, creating new projects and fostering stronger relations with student groups on campus.
"We want to make sure that we listen to all student groups and take their considerations into concern," he said. "I'd like to put a name to a face. When people call the paper to talk about something I want them to be able to ask for Kevin, not just the editor in chief."
Marty Sprigg, the paper's general manager, worked closely with Hardy last spring when he was managing editor.
"Kevin has a very good sense of direction and a strong desire to help younger reporters," she said. "I think that Jeremy has done a great job getting information out to student groups and it's important for Kevin to continue and expand on that. His influence will surely go beyond the year that he is editor."
Steele said Hardy's personality will have a great impact on the production of the newspaper.
"He's very personable and cares a lot about the people he works with," Steele said. "It's important not to get lost in the job of an editor and keep that fun and quirky edge - I don't think Kevin will have a problem with that."
Hardy said he looks forward to encompassing a boss, friend, mentor and teacher into one role.
"The State News is one big experiment," he said. "Sometimes things might not go right, but that means the next day you'll know what to improve on. Students at MSU are always the number one priority."
