From running up and down tracking down people to interview, to sweating over deadlines, high school journalism could be a sport. It may have been stressful, but every high school journalist leaves the newsroom with a few things — for better or for worse.
1. The difference between passive and active voice
Passive voice is the cardinal sin of journalism. Out of all of the grammar rules high school journalists learn (or re-learn), this is the first and arguably one of the most important.
2. The ability to talk to anyone
Almost every article requires an interview with a stranger. These people come with different backgrounds and stories, and high school journalists have to find these stories. Some of these people give one word answers to every question, much to the dismay of student journalists.
3. Time-management skills
Deadline: this is the word that strikes fear — or stress — into student journalists. Every newspaper issue is a cycle of rushing to get interviews, take pictures, write stories, and design layouts by mini-deadlines and the ominous final deadline.
4. The ability to finish something under intense pressure (when deadlines are uncomfortably close)
Of course, because high school journalists are teenagers, they procrastinate. This means that they wait until the very last minute on all deadlines and possibly go grey earlier than others.
5. An insane eye for detail
While the job of copyeditors is to look for mistakes, it is the job of the entire staff to make sure the issue is perfect. Of course, this means that oversights are most obvious once the issue is published for everyone to see.
6. The ability to get the inside scoop
As a student journalist, you are constantly looking for a new story. You pay close attention to even the most casual conversations around you and develop connections with people from all over just in case they may have a story.
7. A little bit of knowledge on a lot of different topics
From writing articles on students with different hobbies, opinion articles on current events, and community occurrences, student journalists pick up tidbits on a wide variety of subjects — ranging from owning alligators as pets to the best restaurants in town to net neutrality.
8. Lasting bonds with staff
By spending countless hours together in the newspaper room, student journalists develop connections and even friendships with each other. These may or may not be a result of shared stress and venting.
9. Memorable quotes
Because student journalists spend so much time together and inevitably go insane, they say some funny things.
Here are select few from my time in high school newspaper:
-“I’m a potato.”
-“Oh crop!”
-“This is why we copyedit.”
-“Why is it Wednesday and not Wed-nes-day?”
10. Pride in your work and an identity of journalist that will never go away
After spending time on a journalism staff, you will create stories and cultivate skills that you will value for the rest of your life. Even though it was (or is) a pain at times, you know that being a part of a newspaper in high was worth it. Journalist will always be a part of your identity — even if you decide to pursue it professionally or not — and you will always value what being on a high school newspaper staff gave you.
