In the season when turnover of leadership positions on campus seems to be at an all-time high, The Bachelor will stay the course. Sam Benedict ’25 will return to helm the award-winning newspaper as Editor-in-Chief for a second consecutive term. Coming off the heels of a successful year of publishing and a dominant performance at the Indiana Collegiate Press Association Awards, The Bachelor is excited to continue its upward trajectory under Benedict’s direction into the 2024-2025 academic year.
The Political Science major and brother of Phi Gamma Delta has guided a continuously evolving staff through ups and downs. While his leadership has been instrumental, he took pains to clarify that it has been a team effort.
“I’ve been really, really lucky,” said Benedict. “I don’t have to worry about a bunch of stuff falling through the cracks, because it’s such a great team.”
While each member of the staff plays a crucial role, Benedict directs the charge. Leading by example, Benedict creates a magnetic and engaging culture that brings out the best of everyone on the team.
“Sam is likeable and gregarious, so people enjoy being around him,” said Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Communications Jim Amidon ’85. “His leadership ability, sense of humor and get-it-done attitude have served us well in that regard, but he and Logan [Weilbaker ’25] have also created a community and culture that have made long nights a lot of fun. Members of the staff enjoy being together and the satisfaction that comes with putting out an incredible student paper, week in and week out.”
While he will have another year of experience under his belt, Benedict recognizes that the circumstances of his two terms will be starkly different. With the different energy in the staffroom comes different priorities and opportunities to refine the product.
“It’s really the opposite of the experience that we had this year,” said Benedict. “This year we had zero seniors on the editorial staff, which was unusual. Being able to retain guys for next year to continue in their roles is a huge advantage. I’m also excited to get a second crack at some of the issues from fall last year with the experience that we have now.”
Refining the quality of work in returning staff will always be a goal at the forefront of any Editor-in-Chief. However, the collegiate environment provides one very unusual dimension for a newspaper: turnover and recruitment.
“I think recruitment will always be the number one goal for the Editor-in-Chief,” said Benedict. “As an upperclassman, you’re trying to build a foundation that’s fully developed so that when you leave, the institution itself can continue to be strong. I’m excited to use the latter half of next year to really develop the next group of editors.”
Benedict’s greatest strength as Editor-in-Chief has been his keen eye for finding young writers and developing them into a versatile and skilled staff. His expertise and experience will transition seamlessly into next fall and beyond, where the culture he leads will take even stronger root.“From my perspective, the staff functions well together as a team working toward a common goal,” said Amidon. “Yes, Sam’s name is at the top of the masthead, but I hope every writer and editor feels positively about the direction of the paper and their individual and collective contributions to making The Bachelor the best small college paper in the state.”