2019-2020
This year on staff has cemented my love for journalism. Representing the paper as editor in chief has been the greatest and most rewarding experience of my high school career. While it is common for the editor in chief to take a step back and write a lot less their senior year, I have continued to advocate for the issues I am passionate about.
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School board votes to close two elementaries, reconfigure grades
As soon as summer started, I expected a break from my duties. However, during the second week of summer, the school board finally reached the end of the reconfiguration planning. During the board meeting they voted to close two elementary schools and change the grade reconfiguration. I stayed at the board meeting until it ended at 11:30 p.m. and wrote a breaking news follow-up story for the online publication. Even in the summer, I thought it was essential to update the community about what was going on in the school district. I was proud of how quickly we were able to publish the story. It was very timely and newsworthy.
A word gone wrong
This story was one of the first big stories of the year. An eager first year staffer signed up to write it, and I was happy to encourage a new love for journalism. However, just days before we planned to send the issue to print, I realized the staffer had not started the story. The staffer said they were sick and would not write it. As leaders of the paper, my co editor and I stepped in and took over the story. For the short time frame we had, I am proud of the story that we wrote. Often times the special education department is overlooked. It is important to me that The Tower represents the entire student body. This was is a step in that direction.
This story also was a learning lesson for me as a leader. I have to be available for new staffers who may have questions. I also am a lot more proactive now, and I frequently check in with writers to see their progress. We have not had a problem with stories not being started by deadline since this issue.
Lines drawn: Redlining, racism and point system riddle Pointes' pasts
This was a story I have wanted to write since my first year on staff when I first researched the housing discrimination problem in Grosse Pointe. With our school's first Culture Week behind us, I thought it was essential that The Tower examined the history and culture of our city. For the story, we spoke with teachers who had graduated from South in the 70s and 80s, current students, an equity consultant, and the former newspaper adviser. The variety of sources allowed this historical feature to thoroughly investigate the impact that these racist institutions have on our school now.
Keepin' it white
The most recent story I have written this year tied in with our representation issue to commemorate Black History Month. I wanted to track the influence that representation had on minority students in many different outlets. This story was challenging because it is a big issue, but the subsections break the story into more manageable portions about representation at school, in pop culture, and in government. The Tower must continue to advocate for those who often aren't given an equal shot. By providing coverage to all voices, people can be more aware of the world they live in.