About The Varsity Pilot
The Varsity Pilot is the practicum newspaper of the University of Liberia's Department of Communication and Media Studies, providing a dynamic platform for aspiring journalists to develop their skills, gain newsroom experience and serve both the university community and the wider public.
The Department was established to train media professionals with a strong emphasis on print and broadcast journalism. Over time, its teaching has expanded to prepare graduates for careers in public relations, advertising and other communication fields. From the outset, the Department's leadership recognised that professional training required a strong connection between classroom learning and practical experience. Before the establishment of Lux FM, broadcast students gained hands-on training through partnerships with local radio stations, while print journalism students honed their craft through The Varsity Pilot, a student-run newspaper.
Over the years, The Varsity Pilot has served as a rigorous training ground where students conduct interviews, gather and verify information, report news, and write features, editorials and commentaries. It also provides opportunities to develop skills in editing, photography, publication design and collaborative newsroom work. Through these experiences, students learn to exercise editorial judgment, meet deadlines and uphold professional and ethical standards.
As The Varsity Pilot expands its online presence, it extends this tradition into digital journalism, offering students opportunities to produce multimedia stories, engage audiences and adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. Revitalising and sustaining the newspaper strengthens the Department's commitment to practical training while providing a forum for campus news, student perspectives and informed public dialogue at both university and national levels.
Mission
Our mission is to illuminate the path from classroom learning to professional practice by providing students with a rigorous platform for experiential journalism. Through The Varsity Pilot, we equip aspiring communicators with the skills, ethical grounding and critical judgment needed to serve as “light in darkness,” informing the university community and the nation with accuracy, fairness and integrity.
Vision
Our vision is to be a beacon of student journalism that embodies the University of Liberia's motto, Lux In Tenebris. We aspire to bridge theory and practice, fostering innovation in print, broadcast and digital media while preparing graduates to shine as principled voices in Liberia's communication landscape and beyond.
The editorial team
Who puts the paper together
The Varsity Pilot is edited and produced by students, with faculty guidance. Meet the editor-in-chief, news editor, multimedia editor and faculty adviser.
Full leadership and team