Katie Taylor and Ashley Scioli are co Editor-in-Chiefs at BUnow, a popular online news resource here at Bloomsburg University. The senior Mass Communications Public relations majors love BuNow and it’s “do whatever you want, whenever you want” attitude. They maintain this attitude despite both noting how hard it is to be a leader and a senior, Katie said that taking 6 senior level classes, and applying to Grad school is especially challenging for her this year, in addition to all her responsibilities at BUnow.

            The seniors are in charge of a staff that changes in size a lot. They say that there are about 12 constant members but at any time they can be managing a staff of about 50. Despite this rotating schedule both women agree on the fact that Conor Showalter is one of the best writers they have, as well as the biggest surprise on the paper. They both cite the intensity in his writing, which they think is in contrast to how laid back he is in real life. During their meetings which occur every Monday at 7 in McCormick room 1252, they discuss story ideas, the past week, and also business with the other members. Ashley and Katie value the other members of BuNow and pride themselves on trying to make everyone a part of the process of the website. They both feel like the group is a family, Ashley says, “we are a family, because we all have a professional relationship together, but we also are a family on the social side.” The girls both remark how they know which person will come late to the meetings, who will be on time, and things like that.

            Ashley and Katie have similar leadership styles, Ashley feels the way her leadership style is best described,  “ to include everyone being a leader doesn’t just mean to delegate roles and being a leader is easier if they are on my side. tries to encourage underclassmen to be a leader with me.”

            This strategy seems to be helping BUnow overcome challenges like the scariest moment for Ashley. During the homecoming incident last year, Ashley remembers, they had a hard time making sure all their facts were correct, and all their wording would not slant the stories. Because of all their hard work Ashley says it’s still their most viewed story.

            While that have been a trying time for the staff, Ashley and Katie both agree that their are way more fun times for them. They point to staff member Joe Arleth as being a source for comedy. Ashley reminisces about how they laugh when every new semester Joe says “he is going to graduate every semester and seeing him walk into the meetings every semester”. The ladies also encourage their underclassmen, in the words of Ashley “to do all that they can do while they are in college, because what they do outside of class will make a difference when it comes to them being in the professional world.” The girls help to support this goal by assisting in organizing and taking part in fundraisers such as bake sales, and also dining to donate in partnership with Applebees and Pizza Hut.

            Ashley and Katie both have people they look up to for inspiration as they are leaders in BUnow. Ashley cites Katie Couric, the national newswoman as a role model for her. Ashley had the opportunity to meet Katie Couric during an internship she was apart of. Ashley remembered fondly how Katie Couric was “very talented and balanced all the millions of things she had to do professionally and with her family.”

            Katie on the other hand looks to someone much closer to BUnow, it’s advisor Dr. Granhal. She models her leadership after him because of his “crazy ideas” and how he is always ready to work.

            Ashley loves BUnow and says her ultimate goal for it is to “allow students to write whatever they want whenever they want, just to bring news to every single person and anyone who wants to read it, not just hard news but other things too.” Katie says a near identical thing with finally adding “I want everyone to realize the site is for students, and it doesn’t matter whatever their major is or whatever their favorite things to do are because they can read and write for us and that is our goal, to be open to all.”

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