TRU’s The Omega relaunch: A Strong New Chapter for Student and Community Vision
The relaunch event of the official student newspaper of TRU will be focusing on The Omega legacy, its current role, and its vision for all students.
By Annabelle Hardy February 16, 2025
On April 10th, from 10am-2pm, all Thompson Rivers University Students and members of the community are welcomed to participate in the relaunch event of The Omega newspaper at the Coastal Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre.
Sean Brady and Robert McAlaster, manager and editor-in chief of The Omega, will be giving speeches to mark a new chapter for the publication and showcasing of the newspaper’s significance to the students of TRU. During this event there will also be activities such as photobooths, idea booths, and complimentary snacks and drink.
The Omega will host guest speakers and writers Eagle Anderson, Augustus Holman and Aibiike Alymova. These three speakers all write in different sectors of the newspaper and are ready to hear your reviews, comments and even recommendations.
The board of the Omega make it clear that the students of TRU are in charge, they are the board as well as the writers, and producers. Editor-in-chief, Robert McAlaster, has worked in multiple journalism settings and knows what it takes to make a story stand out. McAlaster had written for and had people write for him throughout his career and now takes pride in leading his team at The Omega. McAlaster states that “before the revamp it [the paper] was too focused on the hard news for an older audience. They weren’t geared toward a student audience. Now, we focus on sports, arts and culture as well as a little bit of hard news” (McAlaster).
This relaunch is going to be used to emphasize the importance of having students take the lead in our community, no one has to be a great writer, journalist, or interviewer as long as they have the idea it can be passed through to our writers of The Omega to make the idea a reality. Students will be able to use The Omega as a platform for expression as this publication relaunch aims to further strengthen its connection to its students and community and remain a crucial resource for the TRU campus and surrounding area.
So, join us to raise a glass to The Omega and all that it has become and continues to grow as within the Kamloops ecosystem, and embrace innovation while reflecting on the ever-evolving media landscape in campus and community life that The Omega continues to write for.
Event Details:
Date: April 10th, 2025
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Coastal Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre
For More Information, Contact:
Email: manager@theomega.news
Phone: 236-597-1592 (editor-in-chief)
Location: TRU campus in OM2761 (Old Main) by appointment
Distribution Plan
To make sure this press release reached the right audience it has to reach its students first. I would target both digital and physical channels to optimize the outreach. Students are who will spread the word faster than regular community members because face to face conversations happen a lot faster either on campus or between roommates out or in student housing. Following this students also make up a large portion of the online Kamloops population as that’s where they spend most of their time already, whether it be connecting to family members, staying up to date with the latest trends, or checking Moodle. To begin I would obviously post it to The Omega seeing as its our main source of campus news, then on TRU’s Instagram and Facebook page making sure to use the right hashtags so it catches the right eye. Keeping it digital I would then utilize The X, our very own campus radio station, and send it out as an email newsletter to the universities mailing list which include students, faculty and staff. Finally taking it physical by hanging up posters in all common areas and housing buildings as well as throughout common spaces within the community such as Starbucks, Walmart, the mall, and on lamp posts out in the open.
Distribution List
These are my roommates and Students in 3 different programs who are able to spread the word to different students and groups of people with interests a like.
Olivia Manuel- manuelo22@mytru.ca
Cassidy Harrold-harroldc21@mytru.ca
Maria Bayliff- baliffm19@mytru.ca
Four professors from four different fields and backgrounds who can spread the word to other faculty and students. These professors are also a key part of our community and are important to The Omega.
Sarah Moritz- moritzs@mytru.ca
Joceline Andersen- andersenj@mytru.ca
Sheba Rahim- rahims@mytru.ca
Richard Amante- amanter@mytru.ca
Robert McAlaster- 236-597-1592
As editor-in-chief, Robert will be able to inform his staff members and fellow print shop members on the event and as well as prepare any speeches.
Coastal Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre- ckhinfo@coasthotels.com
As the hosts of this event we would want to make sure all employees are welcomed to this event as it is not just student but community wide.
City of Kamloops- info@kamloops.ca
Tournament capital Centre TCC- recreation@kamloops.ca
The city of Kamloops has the ability to make sure all community members are aware and feel invited. Following that the TCC is where a large majority of students spend their time and posters will be seen by the target audience.
The X- music@thex.ca
The Omega- manager@theomega.ca
As the main news reporters on the campus we want them to feel involved and prepared to spread the correct information.
North Tower Housing- info@truresidence.ca
East Village Housing- eastvillage@truresidence.ca
As a lot of students main housing we should have plenty of flyers hung up and posted by the resident advisors to make sure all students interested are informed.