Editorials
Robot reporting: ESPN announces AI will cover certain game recaps
Popular sports broadcasting network ESPN announced that starting Friday, Sept. 6, Artificial Intelligence will be used to cover game recaps for under-served sports. These sports include the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). NWSL and PLL were not regularly reported by ESPN prior to the inclusion of AI, an initiative that is said to extend to other sports in the future.
According to ESPN’s announcement, the AI-generated recaps aim to “enhance coverage of under-served sports, providing fans with content that was previously unavailable.”
We feel ESPN’s explanation has some gaping holes. If the goal was to enhance coverage of sports that don’t receive as much attention, why lean to AI to achieve this when assigning more journalists should be the solution? As college students soon to enter the professional field, coverage of underrepresented sports competitions sounds like the perfect internship opportunity or entry-level position.
To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.
Fan frenzy: the internet owes Chappell Roan an apology
Chappell Roan, singer of the hit song “Good Luck, Babe” and the VMA’s Best New Artist, has seen a meteoric rise to fame over the past year. That rapid rise to fame placed Roan under a constant microscope of criticism. The intense scrutiny that Roan experiences has led her to make some decisions that left fans (and us) questioning if the internet is shining too bright a spotlight on Roan.
Recently, Roan has received an onslaught of hate for refusing to endorse Democratic presidential candidate, current Vice President Kamala Harris. Following high-profile endorsements of Harris from artists like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, many fans were expecting (or demanding) something similar from Roan.
In a series of videos posted to TikTok, Roan discussed the problems within a two-party system, and explained why she will not endorse Harris for president.
“I think it is important to question authority and question world leaders,” said Roan. “The world is changing so rapidly, and I want to be a part of a generation that changes things for good because we need it. Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak louder than an endorsement.”
To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.
Cabinet critiques: Trump’s nominations are cause for concern
As President-elect Donald Trump is finalizing his Cabinet picks, controversies have erupted over the chosen individuals. We feel that the way his administration is shaping up to be is shocking and cause for concern. With varying levels of experience and questionable elements in their respective backgrounds, many of Trump’s selections have led the public, and us, to question whether or not they’re fit to run government.
As young adults in America, these Cabinet picks, and the overall shift to a right-leaning political system, is cause for alarm. The changes that many of Trump’s picks could implement have the potential to negatively harm the country, and the world, in the long term.
In his upcoming, second term as president, Trump will have both a Republican-controlled Senate and House on his side. This red wave within our political system will likely lead to the Senate pushing these controversial nominees through, solidifying their place to head government initiatives. Following the election, and after witnessing these Cabinet decisions by Trump, we’re apprehensive about the future of this country.
To read more of the Lanthorn Staff’s editorial, click here.
Columns
Review: Delicate Steve embraces instrumental melancholy
“Delicate Steve Sings” is the latest album released by the instrumental band Delicate Steve. This anthology features the same unique style that earned the band the cult following they have today. The “singing” heard on the tracks is remarkable, but the only voices you hear are from the guitar of Delicate Steve’s front man, Steve Marion. This album is chock-full of smooth, relaxing and memorable guitar licks and riffs.
The last time we heard from Delicate Steve, they were grooving us to sonic paradise with their 2022 album “After Hours.” It’s on that album that the group gained mainstream popularity with their hit single “I Can Fly Away.” Soon after its release, the song gained much more traction after being featured in a short animation on YouTube by Joe Cappa. Since then, Delicate Steve has honed in on what made them so successful in recent years, resulting in an album that may be their best to date.
To read more of Collin St John’s column, click here.
Linkin Park’s highly awaited return is a disappointing renaissance
In 2017, popular rock band Linkin Park announced that their frontman Chester Bennington had passed away, and I was devastated. I had grown up on their music, and remember my mom jamming out to their studio album “Hybrid Theory” when I was a kid. They were in my “Top Artists” on Spotify Wrapped for years because there is not a song of theirs that I will turn off. I even had tickets to see them live before they announced Chester’s death.
I was shocked and disappointed that I’ll never be able to see one of my all time favorite bands perform. I, as well as millions of other fans, couldn’t help but wonder the next step for Linkin Park. The real question was, who had the voice to replace Chester?
To read more of Macenzie Conn’s column, click here.
Every Taylor Swift album, ranked
After an illustrious career spanning almost two decades, Taylor Swift has been the center of a zeitgeist effect seldom seen in pop culture. Her discography and public persona have seeped so far into the psyche of America’s youth that they are impossible to ignore. Having released her debut album at age 16, fans have seen her continually evolve and pursue new sounds on each studio release, known synonymously as her “eras.” Of course, being so popular and culturally significant, Swift’s music is often the subject of many opinionated music fans with equally as much criticism as there is praise. After all, even with millions of albums sold, countless Billboard #1 songs, and the recently gained status of billionaire, Swift is universally seen as a victim by her fan base.
While I myself do not frequent Swift’s music, I am at my core deeply passionate about music and am always looking to broaden my horizons. So, to hopefully open my mind a little, I listened through the singer-songwriter’s discography from front to back in an attempt to differentiate her best from her worst. The ground rules for this list are simple. I am ranking her core studio releases as they were originally released, so any of the deluxe or “From the Vault” tracks from any of the re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” albums will not be considered. Swifties, please don’t come for me.
To read more of Ayron Rutan’s column, click here.
