Fab Four return to see legacy
by Korene Gallegos
The Metropolitan
(by Armando Manzanares - The Metropolitan)
Original staff from the first years of The Metropolitan gather at Braun's Bar & Grill April16 for the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the newspaper. From left: Emerson Schwartzkopf, Peter Duray-Bito, Steve Werges and Frank X. Mullen.
In the lobby of The Metropolitan hangs a momentous picture of four average guys who started a legacy.
Telling stories was a shared philosophy among the alumni and current Metro journalism students last weekend in the Tivoli. The journalism symposium finished at the historic Denver Press Club.
Armando Manzanares, a Metro Student and Metropolitan reporter, organized the event.
"It all fell into place," Manzanares said. "It was great to see they (alumni) are still passionate and still dedicated (in the field of journalism)."
He also said that getting the founding four fathers of The Metropolitan and other guests to come and help celebrate the 25th Anniversary, was very special.
Emerson Schwartzkopf was the first editor of The Metropolitan in 1979. Emerson is currently the editor of Stone Business Magazine.
One of the other founding fathers Frank Mullen, 1980 Metro graduate, was one of the speakers at the Symposium.
He stressed the important characteristics that a journalism student should carry with them throughout their career.
"Curiosity is number one. You have to want to know why. Also enthusiasm; I'm just getting warmed up, is the way I look at it," he said. "I don't know what is going to happen in the next year or two or three but I know I will be telling stories."
Steve Werges also helped found The Metropolitan. He still resides in Denver working for National Printing Company as a sales consultant. Though out the weekend, he shared his stories with alumni and students.
Peter Duray-Bito helped the other three get The Metropolitan started by utilizing his photography and layout skills. He met his wife Sally Williams while working at the paper, and they have been married for close to 25 years.
Other alumni and speakers at the Journalism Symposium included reporters and editors from the Rocky Mountain News, and USA Today. A majority of the alum earned a Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism at Metro.
Many Metro journalism students have used The Metropolitan as professional practice ground. Mullen was surprised by how much the newspaper has grown and accomplished since he was there.
"I'm especially impressed with The Metropolitan's technology; we started bare bones with a couple of typewriters and used desks," he said. "And now to see they have a radio station in there (the Student Publication Office) and a TV studio and cutting edge computer stuff."
Mullen is now a renowned investigative reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal. He is also a professor of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno and an author and has appeared on several television networks including the Discovery Channel and the BBC.
Perry Swanson was The Metropolitan's editor from 1998-1999. He is now a reporter for the Colorado Springs Gazette.
"I read The Metropolitan every week, and I really am happy to see that this year it seems like there are a number of students who are really enthusiastic and trying to do the best work they can do," Swanson said.
According to The Metropolitan News Editor Noelle Leavitt, the student paper has won over 400 awards in the past 25 years.
Leavitt also noted this academic school year has been a great one for The Metropolitan after winning two prestigious national awards.
"I wouldn't take back my experience with this paper for anything," she said. "And I know that pretty much all the people I work with would say the same thing."
This Spring semester, The Metropolitan won third place in 'Best Student Weekly' by the Associated Collegiate Press, and first place out of five states by the Society of Professional Journalists.
Opinion Editor Justin Breuer was recently announced as the new Metropolitan Editor in Chief for next year.
"I've come to understand what kind of beast the paper is," Breuer said "More importantly, though, I've learned how interesting and fun being a part of a newspaper is; it's a great calling if you use it properly."
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