The Omega Gets a Makeover
Thompson Rivers University’s official student newspaper, The Omega, is regaining a fresh start by relaunching its newsroom for all students to enjoy. On April 10th, 2025 at 3:00-5:30PM, stop by Campus Commons outside of the Campus Activity Centre for an end of the school year tailgate party to support the relaunch of The Omega.
Manager Sean Brady and Editor-In-Chief Robert McAlaster will be our main speakers to introduce The Omega and encourage others to be a part of their journalistic processes. McAlaster states that The Omega is a newspaper for the students, which is why this relaunch is so important. They are seeking to spread information to the students on how they can engage with the newspaper, whether they want to write a story, gain some background information of the working aspects, or simply pitch an idea for a story, The Omega prioritizes the students first and foremost. “We want to hear from you, the students. This is a newspaper for the students and the students only,” McAlaster replies during an in-class press conference.
McAlaster and Brady devote their time to perfecting The Omega. It’s a source that keeps students up to date with the latest events that happen all around campus. They strive to keep the newspaper as a media source solely for the students of TRU. With their office located in room 2768 of the Old Main building on campus, they keep an open door policy to allow students to come as they need. They further host meetings on Monday nights in Old Main, room 2622 at 5:00 PM for any student to attend. This meeting allows students to pitch their own ideas for a story they may want to write, or simply bring up story ideas that they would want to see in future articles. The Omega is a newspaper solely for the students, made by the students.
To support The Omega, the relaunch party will take place on April 10th on the TRU campus. Refreshments, snacks, live DJ, games, speeches from Sean Brady and Robert McAlaster, as well as speeches from the working students of The Omega, and so much more can be found all in one place. Support your student newspaper by attending the event, find out more by visiting theomega.news, and help bring focus to your student newspaper.
For more information, contact Sydney Fairlie,
As a part of the distribution plan, included are Instagram sites and TRU professors to reach out to, as well as will provide physical copies all around campus. To focus on the student aspect, I’ve centered the distribution around different clubs TRU offers, as well as sports teams.
I’ve compiled a list of clubs who would share similar interest with the relaunch, i.e. communications, journalism, media, arts, interactive and inclusive clubs. They would receive the press release as well as physical invitations to give to each member to explain the event as a whole. Students who may not be in these clubs who take similar programs would also be aware of the event as most students within these programs know one another.
Clubs
TRU Comedy Club – Jonathan Anguish (president)
TRU F-club – Yash Yadav (president)
TRU Focus Club – Ziipa Kaonga (president)
TRU Human Rights and Social Justice Club – Kris Middleton and Azade Aria (co-leaders) trumahrsjclub@outlook.com
TRU Journalism and Communications Club – Aibiike Alymova and Anika Peters (co-chairs)
TRU Marketing Club – Rochell Dsouza (president)
TRU Photography Club – Diego Machado (leader)
TRU Podcasting Club – Priyanshu Sachdeva (president)
TRU Pride Club – Payton Hiebert (president)
These clubs have online presences that can further support the exposure of the event. Digital invitations of the events whereabouts and information will be provided to the clubs in the case that they are willing to post the event on their online pages. In terms of TRU sports teams, I’ve included solely their Instagram pages as these receive the most traction in terms of student engagement who would further receive a digital invite to post.
@Gotruwolfpack
@Truwolfpackmvb
@Truwolfpackwvb
@Trumenssoccer
@Truwomenssoccer
@Wolfpackcheer
More Instagram sites that would have interest in the event would further be notified and work with the event coordinators to promote. These Instagram sites focus more so on student living and student life. They promote events that encourage student engagement. I’ve specifically chosen sites from on-campus residences as they could be a primary target audience as they are only footsteps away from where the event itself would take place. Being that there are newer students on campus as well, they may try to find opportunities to meet new students and professors around campus by attending student focused events. With new communications and journalism students as well, it could be important for them to learn about The Omega to become involved with the newspaper in the future.
@Trustudentlife
@Trumcgillresidence
@Truwestgate
@Trunorthtower
@Truworld
For in-class engagement, journalism and communications professors will be sent the press release as well as physical handouts to give to the students of their class. A representative may also be sent to their class to give a brief overview of The Omega and explain the purpose of the event.
Professors
Jennifer Chrumka jchrumka@tru.ca
Shannon Smyrl ssmyrl@tru.ca
Kathleen Sharf kath@tru.ca
Mairi Richter mrichter@tru.ca
Colleen Foucault cfoucault@tru.ca
To spread exposure of the event to the entire campus, posters will be designed to post on billboards, predominantly in science, art, library, nursing, and other buildings. As well, physical invites may be passed around within these buildings, or enticing booths can be set up to properly explain the event and The Omega to passing students.
As for The Omega site itself, a video or online post can be made to reel in the excitement of the students and properly explain and promote the event. For each Instagram site listed as well, these posts can be sent to them to post on their own Instagram sites to cover all bases in terms of exposure.
In the case that these promotions don’t reach each student of TRU, local news sources can be contacted to promote the event and bring in extra audiences. These sources would receive the press release and a brief script or audio clip that can be presented on their sites, whether it be radio or news channels.
Local News Sources
CFJC – Leo Baggio (General Manager)
kamloops-newsroom@pattisonmedia.com
Pattison Media – Kevin Gemmell (General Manager)
(250) 372-3322
Radio NL – Jenn Dalen-Gordon (General Manager)
B-100 – Rod Schween (Pattison Media President)
Full Distribution List
Jonathan Anguish
Yash Yadav
Ziipa Kaonga
Kris Middleton
Azade Aria
Aibiike Alymova
Anika Peters
Rochelle Dsouza
Diego Machado
Priyanshu Sachdeva
Payton Hiebert
Jennifer Chrumka
Shannon Smyrl
Kathleen Sharf
Mairi Richter
Collen Foucault
Leo Baggio
Kevin Gemmell
Jenn Dalen-Gordon
Rod Schween