Editor-Elect Alexander Popichak is in his second semester on the Globe staff. The journalism major and broadcast production minor keeps himself busy on campus and was involved with the Globe from day one of his freshman year.
photo by Dominique Hildebrand
– Why did you join The Globe?
I joined The Globe because I wanted experience doing this journalism thing. My high school didn't have a journalism program, but I knew I wanted to be a journalist. I joined the Globe because I wanted to write, bottom line.
– How did you hear about The Globe?
I forget exactly how I heard about the Globe. I knew nearly every college had a newspaper, so when I was looking at Point Park, I found the newspaper was The Globe and promptly followed it on every social media platform. I first saw a copy my junior year of high school when I first visited Point Park.
– Why did you choose Point Park?
Two things motivated my decision: the program and the location. Point Park sets itself apart by emphasizing practical learning. You can write for The Globe the first week of your freshman year (like I did) and you're in journalistic writing classes your first semester taught by professors who work/worked in the field they're teaching. It's unique and immersive. The location was also key: Point Park is a university built to suit its city, not the other way around so you can write about stuff in that city. I grew up in Carnegie, which is about 5 miles from Point Park, so that helped.
– Explain your role this year on the Globe staff
Year? Let's start with week. This is my second week as Editor-Elect of the Globe. It's a cross between section editing and administration: I help with the layout work on the front page, copy edit layout proofs, and more or less help Josh (our Editor in Chief) put out small fires by doing miscellaneous other things. I guess I'm also second-in-command too, but it's more of a being-everywhere-but-nowhere thing.
– What is journalism to you?
Applied storytelling. My broadcast writing teacher said that people look to journalists for two things: information and experience. Journalism is going where other people can't and telling them what happened and why it matters. You have to be accurate in what you say because the readers weren't there, but you must also portray it in a way that puts that reader there.
– You used to work at the news desk. But if you would write for any other section, which one would you write for and why?
I love news, so that's a tough one, especially considering I came from there as the lovechild of Anthony and maybe Laura but probably not Laura. I've only ever strayed from news once to write the Globe's point. I'd say opinions, if I had any worth listening to. Why? Because I like ranting to anyone and everyone who would listen.
– What is your favorite memory of your time at The Globe?
It's always an adventure, but I've also only been around for a semester and a half. It's a tie between the time we made a jump "Bison-tennial" and any given night where Laura Byko and Matt Petras fight to the point where Petras laughs.
– Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully employed and not homeless. I hope to be working in media in some capacity, I'd love to work in radio.
– In three words, The Globe is:
Pizza-fueled wordsmithing (Alternatively: Pretty Decent Journalism)
– In three words, Pittsburgh is:
That place outside
– Which fictional cartoon character would you want to be for a week and why?
Jerry from Tom and Jerry because cheese.
– What three items would you bring if you were stranded on a deserted island?
A raft, and oar, and a flare gun because flare guns.
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photo by Dominique Hildebrand
– If you could have dinner with two presidential candidates, who would they be?
Now: Bernie Sanders and John Kasich.
All time: Henry Clay and Bernie Sanders
– What is your favorite holiday and why?
That I celebrate: Eastern Orthodox Christmas because of the lights, the quiet, and the family I surround myself with.
That I attempt to celebrate: Boxing Day. It's obscure I want to know more but as of now I just fly a Canadian flag that day.
– If your life was a reality show, what would the tile be?
"We'll go with that" for a few reasons: You don't really want to watch it, but it beats whatever else is on at that obscure time you're watching, and I also say that quite a lot.
– If you were a professional baseball player, what would your walkup song be?
A really loud organ version of Fugue in D minor. It's overplayed, and I'd also be the death of my team because while I love baseball, I can't play it for the life of me.
– What is your favorite season and why?
Fall, because leaves. Also, less people are out and about so you get the world a bit more to yourself. And Halloween.
– Anything else you'd like to add.
Get involved with stuff – it's cliche to say this but you get out of college (and life, for that matter) what you put in. Anyone from any major can write for the Globe, so if you're passionate about something or want to share an event with campus, or just want to try your hand at writing or photography, our email is always open and our pitch meetings (Mondays @ 2:40) are always open!
Also: If you're a journalism student and you're not involved with the Globe, why not? I don't understand you. We're really fun people, and we give you the assignments and sometimes the contacts.
