The Argo, the Independent Student Newspaper of Stockton University since 1971, officially launched its first issue of the 2020-2021 school year, created in an entirely new format, on Monday, September 14, 2020 at 10 a.m.

After the university’s closure in spring 2020 due to COVID-19, the paper was forced to halt its regular printing schedule and shift to an all-digital format, using a temporary “flipbook” style that mimicked flipping through the pages of a physical newspaper.

But when it became apparent a print issue would not be feasible to revive by September, the paper’s staff and board of directors ultimately decided to move online from the Fall semester’s get-go. In addition to planning for an all-online publication once again, however, the editorial team proposed a website makeover to give its staff and readers a fresh start. The paper’s publication schedule, issue count, and advertising services would remain the same, but its appearance would change completely.

With the help of Argo Board Member Walead Abdrabouh, who works at Stockton as the Director of Information Systems & Business Intelligence, Assistant Editor, Laurie Melchionne began carefully constructing The Argo site’s makeover in the summer of 2020. The new site features individual blog/article post formatting, rather than publishing whole PDF files.

“We knew we’d have to make some changes to our digital platform to keep up to date with other online outlets as well as adequately representing the ever-changing Stockton community,” said Melchionne. “The decision to move solely online came with a lot of planning and preparation. We made the switch with the health of our staff and readers in mind, knowing we can still be connected online while staying safe.”

Melchionne, along with Editor-in-Chief, Alexa Taylor, started promoting the relaunch on Instagram to get the word out to readers. Finding inspiration from other online college newspapers and well-known publications around the country, Melchionne spent weeks finalizing the website’s new features, to reveal to the student body by the time The Argo published its first issue of the fall.

“I can’t say enough how proud I am of Laurie for taking charge of this new endeavor and advocating for a website makeover. This is something we’ve wanted for a while, but the timing wasn’t right before,” said Taylor. “Now, the timing is right. I hope our staff writers and the rest of the campus community enjoy our new format as much as we enjoyed setting it up.”

Congratulations, Laurie, for coordinating the stocktonargo.com website redesign and guiding our staff as we adjusted to this new layout. Visit our new website http://www.stocktonargo.com on Mondays at 10 a.m. to read our newly published issues!