“Curious and in constant search of wonder,” is the motto that guides the journalists of the LUISS student magazine, Globe Trotter.
“The project was launched by a group of students, passionate about journalism and culture,” explains Luisa Marotta, outgoing LUISS Management student and director of the magazine that was established in 2003 under the name LiberaMente, and became Libera LUISS in 2008.
In December 2014, the magazine officially changed name and look. “The rebranding wasn’t easy, the entire editorial staff shared their ideas and visions. It had to be understandable and representative of the newspaper’s international spirit. We were inspired by the original globetrotters, the nineteenth century explorers that took off on expeditions around with world with thrown-together vessels. We aim to be digital globetrotters from a new millennium, with an attentive, receptive and free mind.”
Luisa began as an editor, before becoming vice director and finally director of the magazine in July 2014. “I began my collaboration during the final year of my bachelor’s degree. Even though I was not a new student, I approached the Libera stand during Welcome Day, where I met former Director Beatrice Settanni. Thanks to her I became a member of the team. I immediately liked the environment, felt like a member of the team, and fell in love with the project.”
The printed version of Globe Trotter comes out twice a semester thanks to the dedication of nearly 45 students (who also contribute to the online version) and can be found on both the Viale Romania and Via Parenzo campuses. “Our meetings are generally quite informal. We hardly ever meet in a classroom, usually deciding to meet off campus to speak about our ideas. Everyone makes proposals and we talk about the themes for the next issue to find a common ground.”
Globe Trotter covers current events, economics, sports and culture in addition to LUISS events and news. “For us, European issues, foreign affairs and integration are fundamental topics. For this reason we write our articles not only in Italian, but in English, French and Spanish, too.” With the same spirit, the Globe Trotter students created the International Student Post Network to encourage collaboration between university newspapers from all over Europe as well as a series of initiatives and workshops on the world of journalism, with important speakers such as the vice director of TgLa7, Gaia Tortora. “In March 2015, for example, we organized a conference called Una politica senza rughe with the director of Il Foglio, Claudio Cerasa, Annagrazia Calabria and Francesca Bonomo, moderated by Professor Matteo De Angelis.”
At the end of every academic year, the staff organizes the Globe Trotter Gala, during which they award the year’s best articles. “It’s a special occasion to celebrate reaching our goals and overcoming obstacles,” explains Luisa, “but it’s also a moment to say goodbye to students that will be graduating and leaving the magazine, like me.” For the upcoming academic year, the new directors will be Francesca Ida Barletta and Anna Pascale, while the vice directors will be Adriano di Curzio (for the web version) and Maria Tomassetti (for the paper version).
“As our new director, Ida Barletta, wrote in an article, all that has happened this year has reinforced our convictions that a rich university experience is not only made up of going to lessons, but of friendships, sharing and unforgettable moments too.”
