What if one class could teach writing, listening, leadership, and media literacy all at once? The answer is simple: one class does–Expository Writing (aka the School newspaper). The newspaper should continue to be a class, as it offers many important real-life skills and helps create more informed, confident high school students. Newspapers have the power to share student voices, engage community members, and educate the student body about local issues. This is essential, especially in a time when people are so often misinformed. The newspaper should be a class because it builds real-world skills, strengthens student voices, and offers students a chance to win awards and be recognized for their writings.
Serving on the school newspaper teaches skills that go beyond traditional classroom learning. Firstly, student journalists learn how to ask smart questions, listen to others, form strong opinions, and, most importantly, learn how to interact with all types of people. These are skills that are essential for their life in college as well as in the adult world. Student journalism also allows students to learn how to write persuasively, factually, and creatively, which can translate into effective communication of all forms. Also, it offers students a chance to identify true from false and to fact-check information, all of which can be helpful in a confusing and complicated real world. Learning how to collaborate is one of the most important skills for jobs, and the school newspaper does this best as students work together on articles, lay out the paper, and mesh their opinions through editorials.
A traditional week as a writer for the school newspaper includes filling up all allotted class time, as well as doing additional work after school. In the first class of the week, students look at their assigned articles, find angles of storytelling, and begin formulating questions and finding sources. Outside of class, student journalists interview members of the community and take pictures. Then, in the second class of the week, writing will begin. Final edits and touch-ups will once again be made at home, but by the last class of the week, students will be ready to get feedback on their articles from peers and advisors. On occasional weekends, students will gather to do layout and make the physical newspaper.
A school newspaper also gives students a platform and a way to form community connections. Through writing, students can discuss issues that affect them. They can express thoughts, ask questions, and inspire change in the community around them. Also, is there any better way to highlight student achievements than through newspaper articles or pictures? The school newspaper is one of the only ways all students can be informed and celebrated, which is something that can increase school spirit and togetherness.
Journalism, media, and other communication careers are extremely prominent and popular in today’s society. A school newspaper class can offer students the chance to explore these career options, connect with mentors, and gain expertise in a field where experience can be difficult to come by. The number of alumni who have pursued successful careers in journalism in the past two decades has been consistently rising. Recent alumni journalists include Linnie Supall (‘03), Hunter Toro (‘12), Max Chesnes (‘15), and James Richardson (‘20). The best way to become a good journalist is through practice and knowledge gained through experience, both of which can occur in a high school newsroom.
While some believe the newspaper should be merely a club rather than a whole class, I disagree. The reason high school newspapers win awards, exist as a brilliant form of extracurricular, and shape so many students is because of all the time that goes into them. This time and effort can only be achieved through the newspaper being a dedicated class with enough time and workload to formulate them. A club simply does not have the resources to allow students to reap the full benefits of engaging in journalism in high school.
The newspaper should be a class and nothing less, as it offers critical skills such as communication and real thinking, which are important for high school students. It would be doing a disservice to students and educators at a high school not to have a set newspaper class.
