The student body here at Gardner-Edgerton High have many famed items at our disposal. An incredible football team, amazing clubs, and one heck of a newspaper. We write about serious topics, hence vaping and it’s risks and depression to some of the silliest and most random topics, like our latest, “What kind of pasta are you?” quiz.
In this article, you will be able to pinpoint what we newspaper staff writers actually do in Room 316. And if you’re thinking that all we do is type-type-type on the computers, you are wrong. We like to think of ourselves as a family. And when you are a part of this family, the parties are bigger, the jokes are funnier, and your everyday mentality is WAY better than it was.
Lindsey Ross, Gardner-Edgerton’s very own, Photography, Journalism, Yearbook, and Newspaper teacher is one busy bee. Ross camps out in her room with companion and next-in-charge, editor Senior Madeline Owens. The fall semester newspaper staff came out a few more than we have at the moment, a whopping five people, Ross included.
This year is Ross’s fifth year advising and she believes that this year will be the 39th year The Blazer has been up and running. The staff doles out roughly 80-100 stories on average, but it depends on the number of people on staff. “Every student wrote, like, one story per issue,” said Ross. That was before, with more people writing. Currently, we have four issues a year, but they are larger. “More students now need to write two stories an issue,” said Ross.
As you should all know, we do have an online website for you to get in on our community news. The URL for such a website is www.gehsnews.com. “There is also an app you can download on your phone and the stories that go in the print issue go there after the print paper has come out,” Ross says. Everything we write goes there in some way or form. Also, time sensitive matters go onto the website rather than on the print.
Ross provides future journalists or staff members with some great advice, “I think the most important thing for a [journalist or staff member] can have is curiosity.”
Senior Madeline Owens walks alongside Lindsey Ross when it comes to pulling everyone together. “My assignments consist of writing stories for the printed issue and the online news website, The Blazer. I also help other newspaper students write their papers and I provide feedback on their ideas,” says Owens when asked what we really do on staff.
“In order to join the Newspaper, all you would need to do is speak with Ms. Ross, our Newspaper teacher, and put it on your class schedule,” Owens advises as a way to get your voice heard. Both Ross and Owens recommend that you take one of the prerequisite for Newspaper, either Photography or 21st Century Journalism. Taking 21st Century will introduce you to the basics of writing stories.
Owens is also the staff editor and loves it to no avail. “I love being the Editor, and I love having the responsibilities that I have, such as making sure we meet our deadlines and giving advice to students writing their stories. It can be stressful at times, but the bonding and fun moments definitely outweighs the work!”
I bet you’re wondering about some of the benefits you can obtain when and if you become a member of the Newspaper staff. “You make new friends and bond with students while working on your stories. We have holiday parties and Food Fridays, which is when we bring in snacks and drinks during class,” Owens states. Not only do you have benefits that benefit your appetite, there’s other, more non-eating benefits as well. Owens says, “Writing and editing news stories can benefit you by teaching paper writing skills and time management. Also, it’s an amazing creative outlet for photography and graphic design. Newspaper students have opportunities to complete technical career pathways, and being a writer for a newspaper looks great on a college resume.”
Owens sees that the best part of being on staff is “having that feeling of family with the people you work with.” We all make great memories and “we all understand the struggles of writing for a newspaper.”