A few weeks into the semester, Bella White ‘27 has already earned themself a colorful nickname: Madame Editor. It’s a jest you’ll occasionally hear during Communiqué pitch meetings while White corrals a lively staff. 

White stepped into the role after Carson Gates ‘25 finished his two-year contract as editor-in-chief. In the months leading up to Gates’ final issue, White enjoyed an enthusiastic reception as editor-in-chief-elect. More than once, the newsroom flooded with a playful chant: “All hail Bella White.” 

It’s an enthusiasm that White matches, but not without a healthy dose of anxiety. In-between editing stories during the first layout meeting of the semester, White explained their thoughts on the transition, their goals for the paper and the impact of RuPaul’s Drag Race on their approach to the job. 

Answers have been shortened for clarity and conciseness. 

AH: So, you’re relatively new to Chatham and the Communiqué. How do you feel about stepping into the role of editor-in-chief?

BW: I’m terrified. Sara [Bauknecht, the Communiqué’s faculty adviser] always says a good amount of nervousness is OK, but I’m scared just because I know how much this organization means to people and how much it means to me. I’m nervous in that way, but also I’m excited. We have a really great staff, and I’m excited to see what we all do together and how I can help navigate and continue the group we’ve made in the past and bring in more people. 

AH: I’m curious, you always seem so confident in pitch meetings and in layout, how do you handle that anxiety?
BW: That’s a good question. Maybe it seems more prominent to me because it’s my internal monologue, but I do try to make it seem like I know what’s going on. My senior year of high school, I got really into RuPaul’s Drag Race.

AH: OK.

BW: There’s like this one episode coming to mind of RuPaul telling the drag queen Katya that you need to name your anxiety Brenda, and then tell Brenda to just eff off, and I think I take a lot from that. I really try to minimize the worries, the Brendas, if you will. This is going to be such a strange article.

AH: This is exactly the stuff I’m looking for. I think you’re also used to getting thrown in the deep end. Do you remember your first article you ever did on students who were concerned that the women & gender studies major would be cut? You were on a pretty tight deadline for that. What was that experience like?

BW: That was kind of crazy. It was a lot of fun, though. I remember the first time we met. I give all the credit to you and the other editors because you guys really sat me down and were like, “OK, this is what you need to do. This is the structure. These are the interviews you want to get.” Obviously, the writing I did was my own, but the guidance you guys provided was great, and the people I interviewed were phenomenal. 

AH: You pointed to those mentor relationships as an important part of establishing yourself as a writer at the Communiqué. You’re now editor-in-chief. You’re taking on that role for our new group of first-years. How are you approaching that?

BW: I really want to approach it by being the most welcoming and inclusive as possible. I want people to see me and be able to approach me if they have questions. I don’t ever want to come off as, like, godly or above. And too, I don’t want anyone to feel like the journalistic process is something they can’t handle because it seems daunting, I know, at first, but once you get into it, once you find that rhythm, it’s not difficult. Most people can do it and can write well, and I don’t want anyone to feel scared. 

AH: You mentioned a lot of your nerves stepping into the role of editor-in-chief. What inspired you to try out?

BW: That’s a good question.

AH: You can say if it was peer pressure.

BW: A little bit of it was. You know Neil deGrasse Tyson? He always talks about when you think you know enough about a subject to think you’re right but not enough to know you’re wrong. That’s kind of how I felt first semester last year. I thought “I can do this. This is easy.” But I didn’t know enough to understand the full extent of the responsibilities. I talked to Carson [Gates], talked to Sara [Bauknecht], and even the day the application was due I was back and forth about it. But in the end, I was like, “If I don’t try, I’m never going to know.” Once I applied and got the position, I started to feel more confident. It’s a very big role, but I’m excited to take a stab at it. 

AH: What are some of the changes readers can expect to see under your leadership?

BW: I’m hoping to start more outreach to [Eden Hall and Eastside], hopefully finding a permanent strategy to get editions of the Communiqué to those two locations, finding ways to make sure we incorporate them in our coverage. I think sometimes we stay mostly Shadyside in our coverage. I would love to see increased coverage across Eastside and Eden Hall. 

AH: You mentioned increasing coverage. A big theme I’ve noticed with students throughout the reorganization has been increased calls for transparency and clear communication from the administration. I’m curious to know if you’ve thought about how the Communiqué might address concerns over coverage or strengthen its relationship with its readers over the course of your time as editor-in-chief. 

BW: I think the one thing that would work best would be to remind people that we’re human, to kind of create more friendly relationships with students on campus, maybe by doing more social content so that there’s more of a positive relationship with students on campus so that students recognize we’re humans, we can have fun too, and our staff isn’t meant to be something like an underground newspaper where we’re putting out editions in the dark. 

AH: So it’s clear you have a passion for journalism and a passion for this work, but I’m curious, what else do you like to do?

BW: For most of my life, I’ve danced. I kind of stopped dancing in high school, and now, this year, my friend and I have been going to ballet classes on Wednesdays. It’s just so cool to be back dancing. I’ve always loved expressing myself through motion. A lot of my hobbies are things I want to do and put time and effort into, and I’ve always wanted to learn how to crochet. I go to the Fiber Arts Bunch meetings, and I try doing it, and then five minutes later I’m like, “I’m going to take a nap.” 

AH: Aside from at pitch meetings, where can readers expect to see you on campus?

BW: I’m on the Quad. Here’s the thing about me. I will talk to anyone. It’s so bad because when I sit on the Quad, I’m like, “I should do work.” And then I’m like, “Oh, there’s so-and-so. I need to say hi to them. Oh, there’s so-and-so. Oh, they need help finding class. I’ll help them find class.” If you see me, say hello. I’ll be on the Quad, in the library, I’ll talk to anyone. 

AH: You’ve signed a two-year contract to be editor-in-chief. Where do you hope the Communiqué will be when you’re helping to select the next editor-in-chief?

BW: I hope that the staff continues to grow and that we continue to build relationships with the students and that we have more collaboration with print. I know that no matter what, there will be a Communiqué and that Communiqué will be the same wonderful organization that it is right now. 

AH: Do you have any messages for the readers of the Communiqué as you begin your time as editor-in-chief?

BW: Thank you for reading. I appreciate every single person that has ever picked up a Communiqué, that has ever read our work, engaged with our content. Just the fact that someone took time out of their day to even do the back page means so much to me and to everyone on staff. We put out content that makes us happy and makes us excited, and we love it when people engage with it. Thank you to our audience for supporting our work. We really wouldn’t be able to do it without our readers. 

AH: OK, final question. I asked Carson [Gates] this for his outro interview, but it didn’t make the cut. Who’s your favorite editor?

BW: That is a tough question. So, that information is very top secret, unfortunately.

AH: It’s under media embargo.

BW: It is under media embargo. I love all the editors equally like a mother that does not want to answer that question.