Content warning: Mention of The Tribune and its absolutely horrible takes

I cannot count on one hand the number of times I’ve mentioned that I’m an editor at The Tribune, only to receive an eyeroll. In fact, there is a Reddit discussion post that affectionately calls our paper the “least terrible of the bunch.” I get it: If you think The Tribune isn’t perfect, I can assure you that you’re not alone. Whether you fall asleep at night dreaming of our next issue, or you walk past our newspaper stands on campus muttering something PG-13, I must thank you—at least you’re paying attention.

A campus paper that only affirms what you already believe or want to believe is not a newspaper, but a propaganda machine. The Tribune exists to challenge and question the status quo. Even if you don’t agree with us, your criticism sharpens our perspective, and your hostility does not derail us from continuing to write and uncover unspoken injustices.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t stop some from criticizing us for being ‘selectively aware,’ that we care loudly about some issues while staying silent on others. But I implore you to consider: We have, usually, 27 pieces to publish in print every week. Every issue is a matter of editorial judgement. To select one story over another is the nature of journalism, not ignorance toward other injustices. 

We must choose carefully what we cover if we want to maximize our leverage in the community. While geographical distance does not make global injustices matter any less, The Tribune’s inherent job is to cover stories of interest and impact to the McGill community. When we write about McGill’s complicity in Israel’s genocide in Palestine, it’s because we know the student empire has the power to influence institutional behaviour. When we write about McGill’s inadequate efforts in reconciliation, it’s because we recognize our paper has the power to inform students about McGill’s lacklustre initiatives.

And when we receive your criticism, it urges us to reconsider our journalistic angle. Not only does your attention direct us to what the community cares about, it informs us of where our coverage succeeds and where it falls short. This way, we can sharpen our lens and take responsibility for our choices.

And then comes the accusation that we are a biased paper. There’s no disagreement there—bias is a prerequisite to journalism. Stories carry perspective, perspective carries judgement, and judgement contains bias. The Tribune is inherently biased, and so are other media outlets—even if they claim honest reporting.

There is no unbiased reporting. We are biased, and we are proud of it. As a matter of fact, our Anti-Oppressive Mandate clearly states that “we centre anti-oppression in our coverage, our editorials, our hiring, and our workplace practices.” But this is more than a badge we wear; it is a commitment to holding ourselves accountable to readers. Our mandate demands ongoing reflection, compassion, and a willingness to recognize that harmful biases exist—and that our paper strives not to perpetrate those biases through our words, or replicate them through the stories we choose to platform. Our mandate is a responsibility, not just a slogan.

Now you may ask, whose side are we on? The truth is, we don’t glorify anyone or anything for that matter. But we do stand with those who have been silenced or sidelined. Those that the mainstream media institutions have neglected or ignored. Those who were systemically oppressed. And, cliché or not, history is—after all—his story. It is up to us journalists to disrupt this narrative and make it their story—by listening, reporting, and frontlining accountability.

If you have made it this far, I would like to seize the chance, one last time, to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Loving The Tribune doesn’t require agreeing with every headline—I know I don’t. It doesn’t entail trying to out-woke everyone. Loving The Tribune simply means caring enough to stay engaged.

After all, we are a newspaper, not a dictatorship. We didn’t ask for unconditional agreement, just engagement.