Upon my first year in middle school, I knew I wanted to study journalism. At a young age, I carried around a notebook everywhere I went and would write the most obscure stories. This ignited a flame of creativity that I would carry over into high school journalism. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my high school journalism career is the ever-changing landscape of journalism.
When I joined the newspaper staff my sophomore year, I immediately faced some of the biggest roadblocks in my life. My medical issues superseded my schooling; I needed knee surgery and had a sudden reoccurring illness that caused prostate stones. I was in and out of school trying to figure out the root of the mysterious sickness that left me debilitated for days on end. Having to depend on other staffers to help me, from designing to interviewing, was difficult, because I did not want to be a burden to the rest of the staff.
After missing days of school, I had to play catch up in my other classes, and still try to manage my newspaper deadlines. Since it was my first year and I had a long-term goal of joining the editorial board the following year, I felt inferior that I seemed to keep falling behind my fellow staffers. While I met my newspaper deadlines, it was not until March when I finally received treatment for the sickness, then I kicked my journalistic endeavors into high gear.
As part of our publications’ end of the year banquet, staffers nominate each other for various awards. I received the most improved staffer award, which was a tremendous honor. Everyone began to recognize that no matter my circumstances or my struggles, I dedicated myself to making deadline and proved to be a leader in the face of adversity. Rising into my junior year, I became co editor-in-chief.
As the end of the year approached, my returning staffers, adviser and I had many discussions on the future of our publication. Boone is a hybrid publication of print and web, and print has been foundational to the school since its opening in 1952. However, based on the financial needs, convenience and relevance of an ever-changing world, we decided to eliminate the monthly print edition and become almost an exclusive web publication.
It was disheartening at times to know that print, something so tangible and traditional, was no longer the primary focus. All of us were walking into the 2016-17 school year blind. We had never focused on web, so we spent half of the year figuring out a rotational schedule, how many stories would fulfill a functional website, a proper balance of stories and multimedia coverage and trying to make this transition as smooth as possible.
I took this new opportunity to acclimate myself to web. I knew that if journalism was a defining part of my future, learning the ins and outs of web were crucial to my success in becoming a “backpack journalist.”
Leading up to the end of the year, I worked to set a precedent on what web should entail for coming years. With a variety of written and multimedia pieces ranging from news to features to blogs to opinions, our site was foundational for future developments. I was satisfied with our website and as my second year on staff as editor-in-chief drew to a close, a new change arose for the upcoming year.
My former adviser, Renee Burke, announced that she was stepping down from her position. Mrs. Burke was an essential part of my success and support as a journalist, and knowing she would not be there every day was nerve-racking. A lot of staffers were not returning, and I felt like I would be steering a sinking ship. While originally, I felt apprehensive for my final year, I knew a new adviser would bring a new energy to the staff and hopefully would bring new ideas and thoughts to the table.
Now over halfway through my final year on staff, our new adviser, Bridgette Norris, has brought creativity and fresh directions to our publication. We have reallocated money to have four print publications a year, rather than six, and still post routinely on web. This year has been about passing on the torch and hopefully inspiring other staffers to see the importance and need for journalism.
High school journalism has taught me an exponential amount of skills that can be applied in any aspect of my life. I have grown as a writer, photographer, designer and interviewer, and awards from Florida Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Ball State University humble me to know that the work I create is not only impactful to my high school community, but valued by reputable scholastic press associations. Additionally, certifications in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop make me more marketable in the design community. After publishing almost 70 pieces ranging from urgent news, opinions, columns, multimedia news packages and in-depth features, I know that my diversity as a writer will benefit me in the future.
But on top of that, the soft skills of gaining more confidence, meeting deadlines, interviewing and leadership will have life-long benefits. Guiding my staff through the stressful and rewarding times has not only made me not only a better journalist, but a better person. In three short years, I went from being sick and constantly under immense pressure, to stepping up to a challenge and projecting myself to interact with others. My journalism toolkit has a solid foundation, that I am looking to add to when I study marketing in college.
My biggest takeaway is that throughout the challenges in my career as a high school journalist, that adversity and change are metaphorical for the ever-changing landscape of journalism. The daily attack on media or an advance in multimedia technology; everyday, media finds a new rhythm or movement to shape a generation of technological empowerment in reporting and coverage. That change is paramount to the shaping of media culture in the future. Scholastic journalism has shaped the talents I need to be apart of any change I wish to see in this world.
When I joined the newspaper staff my sophomore year, I immediately faced some of the biggest roadblocks in my life. My medical issues superseded my schooling; I needed knee surgery and had a sudden reoccurring illness that caused prostate stones. I was in and out of school trying to figure out the root of the mysterious sickness that left me debilitated for days on end. Having to depend on other staffers to help me, from designing to interviewing, was difficult, because I did not want to be a burden to the rest of the staff.
After missing days of school, I had to play catch up in my other classes, and still try to manage my newspaper deadlines. Since it was my first year and I had a long-term goal of joining the editorial board the following year, I felt inferior that I seemed to keep falling behind my fellow staffers. While I met my newspaper deadlines, it was not until March when I finally received treatment for the sickness, then I kicked my journalistic endeavors into high gear.
As part of our publications’ end of the year banquet, staffers nominate each other for various awards. I received the most improved staffer award, which was a tremendous honor. Everyone began to recognize that no matter my circumstances or my struggles, I dedicated myself to making deadline and proved to be a leader in the face of adversity. Rising into my junior year, I became co editor-in-chief.
As the end of the year approached, my returning staffers, adviser and I had many discussions on the future of our publication. Boone is a hybrid publication of print and web, and print has been foundational to the school since its opening in 1952. However, based on the financial needs, convenience and relevance of an ever-changing world, we decided to eliminate the monthly print edition and become almost an exclusive web publication.
It was disheartening at times to know that print, something so tangible and traditional, was no longer the primary focus. All of us were walking into the 2016-17 school year blind. We had never focused on web, so we spent half of the year figuring out a rotational schedule, how many stories would fulfill a functional website, a proper balance of stories and multimedia coverage and trying to make this transition as smooth as possible.
I took this new opportunity to acclimate myself to web. I knew that if journalism was a defining part of my future, learning the ins and outs of web were crucial to my success in becoming a “backpack journalist.”
Leading up to the end of the year, I worked to set a precedent on what web should entail for coming years. With a variety of written and multimedia pieces ranging from news to features to blogs to opinions, our site was foundational for future developments. I was satisfied with our website and as my second year on staff as editor-in-chief drew to a close, a new change arose for the upcoming year.
My former adviser, Renee Burke, announced that she was stepping down from her position. Mrs. Burke was an essential part of my success and support as a journalist, and knowing she would not be there every day was nerve-racking. A lot of staffers were not returning, and I felt like I would be steering a sinking ship. While originally, I felt apprehensive for my final year, I knew a new adviser would bring a new energy to the staff and hopefully would bring new ideas and thoughts to the table.
Now over halfway through my final year on staff, our new adviser, Bridgette Norris, has brought creativity and fresh directions to our publication. We have reallocated money to have four print publications a year, rather than six, and still post routinely on web. This year has been about passing on the torch and hopefully inspiring other staffers to see the importance and need for journalism.
High school journalism has taught me an exponential amount of skills that can be applied in any aspect of my life. I have grown as a writer, photographer, designer and interviewer, and awards from Florida Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Ball State University humble me to know that the work I create is not only impactful to my high school community, but valued by reputable scholastic press associations. Additionally, certifications in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop make me more marketable in the design community. After publishing almost 70 pieces ranging from urgent news, opinions, columns, multimedia news packages and in-depth features, I know that my diversity as a writer will benefit me in the future.
But on top of that, the soft skills of gaining more confidence, meeting deadlines, interviewing and leadership will have life-long benefits. Guiding my staff through the stressful and rewarding times has not only made me not only a better journalist, but a better person. In three short years, I went from being sick and constantly under immense pressure, to stepping up to a challenge and projecting myself to interact with others. My journalism toolkit has a solid foundation, that I am looking to add to when I study marketing in college.
My biggest takeaway is that throughout the challenges in my career as a high school journalist, that adversity and change are metaphorical for the ever-changing landscape of journalism. The daily attack on media or an advance in multimedia technology; everyday, media finds a new rhythm or movement to shape a generation of technological empowerment in reporting and coverage. That change is paramount to the shaping of media culture in the future. Scholastic journalism has shaped the talents I need to be apart of any change I wish to see in this world.