As the new semester has arrived, students take on a new class load to end the year. This semester, Eaton Red Ink has added two new staff reporters already finding their place and making their name in journalism.
Taylor Ackelson (27), and Emma Anderson (27) have completed the steps that come before becoming a staff reporter, and are now ready to represent EHS’s newspaper.
Before entering the newspaper class at EHS, a student must complete the course Journalistic Writing 1 to learn the basic rules pertaining to journalism. After completing the prerequisite, the student is qualified to become an official reporter. Being a reporter includes publishing stories written completely by the student, helping construct the physical newspaper, and taking pictures of any events that may be worth capturing. Newspaper is different from other classes offered at EHS, because each student must be willing, cooperative, and a team player to get the job done. Being in this class is not something that every student can do, but Anderson and Ackelson are ready to tackle the opportunity and present their voices to the student body.
For Ackelson, joining the news crew is one more team she is a part of at EHS. She is also involved in volleyball, FBLA, and track and field. Working in unison with a team is not unfamiliar to Ackelson and joining the crew is only going to strengthen her teamwork skills. She said, “When I heard that I had met the qualifications for this class, I jumped at the opportunity.” She is adamant that she has a lot to offer to the fellow reporters in the class. Ackelson takes immense pride in her writing, and hopes to continue this class for the rest of highschool in efforts to make a career out of it in the future.
There are several styles of writing that must be considered when surveying a newspaper. Each individual on the Red Ink team has their own strengths and genres of writing that they feel they can portray the best. Ackelson is interested in pursuing editorials and sports stories to be her forte.
Anderson also embraces being heavily involved within the school community and is anticipating writing about it. She is a talented softball player; key player of the three time state championship softball team, and also plays for a club team in Corona, California. Anderson is broadening her horizons by contributing to the news crew.
She brings a lot to the table, and she is planning to prove her literary intelligence through sports-specific stories and brainstorming topics that are crucial to be written about. Coming from an outside view of the class, Anderson said, “Everything is very warm and welcoming. Everybody is supportive of one another and each member wants to see each other succeed.”
Newspaper class is so much more than what EHS students see from the outside. Inside of the newsroom it is evident that the staff conjoins to create something important for the community to see. Each staff member takes pride in their work, and works for a supporting cause of the community. The staff is excited to welcome the new reporters and guide them on their way to showcasing their journalism skills for the remainder of their high school careers.