Letner leads student publications

  Tuesday, August 2, 2016 2:00 AM
  News

Pittsburg, KS

A familiar face is returning to the student publications office at Pittsburg State.

Josh Letner, a Pitt State graduate and former editor of The Collegio student newspaper, is the university’s new director of student publications. Letner succeeds Gerard Attoun, who retired this year after 16 years directing the publication of The Collegio and Kanza yearbook.

“It’s an honor to be selected as director of student publications at Pittsburg State University,” Letner said. “As a former editor of The Collegio, I understand the important role student publications play in connecting the campus with the Pittsburg community at large, as well as our alumni.”

Letner earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from PSU in 2009 and a master’s degree in communication in 2010. He served on the Department of Communication faculty from 2012 to 2016, teaching advertising and public relations courses. Before joining the faculty, Letner was a general assignment reporter at The Joplin Globe.

Letner said his goals for student publications at Pitt State include helping student journalists adapt to the new digital age.

“I think it is important for our students to possess the skills necessary to compete in the digital media landscape,” Letner said. “However, while the technology may change the way journalism is presented, the basic tenets and practices that comprise the craft of journalism will remain basically the same.

“It'll be a challenge, no doubt, but it will certainly be exciting,” he said.