Journalism may sound boring but it is way more than just writing a story and people reading it. The amount of people you meet and the things you see. It impacts those around you. You get to meet new people, use social media and influence others, and improve people and writing skills.
The past couple of years the staff of the journalism class has been dwindling, and there are fewer and fewer people each year, which makes it hard to produce stories. There is a possibility that the class of journalism and newspaper could be cancelled due to a lack of students. The audio visuals class and photography class have already been canceled.
Journalism doesn’t just impact the class: it impacts the community as a whole. Without journalism, the interesting stories about our school, the students who walk the campus, and the many sports stories that people love will cease to exist. From the scoreboard, the Ranger Roundup, the profiles of students and teachers, to entertainment stories, these stories make up the Valley Ventana. Without the Valley Ventana there would be no student body representation.
Margaret Edmonson, a teacher who started the program 19 years ago in 2006, has put her heart and soul into the program, teaching Newspaper, Broadcast journalism, journalism 1-3, Audio Visual, and Photography at the same time. The publication means so much to her and the students who put their time and effort into making sure stories are published for the community and other fellow students to see.
This publication is much more than just an online newspaper — it’s a key part of the yearbook that students eagerly purchase each year. The yearbook becomes a cherished keepsake, a snapshot of memories students reflect on at the end of the year. The stories created by our staff capture the essence of our school community, celebrating every achievement and moment we’ve experienced together. These stories help bring us all closer, uniting us as we recognize the milestones we’ve reached. This is why this class holds such significance — it’s where our school’s history is made, shared, and remembered.
If you or someone you know aspires to be a sports reporter, news reporter, crime reporter, sports photographer, or any kind of photographer, this class is the perfect opportunity to hone your skills. Not only will you gain hands-on experience in writing and photography, but you’ll also have the chance to contribute to stories that shape our school’s history.
Whether you’re capturing a big game or reporting on an important event, you’ll be part of something much bigger — a team that brings the community together through the power of storytelling. So, if you dream of making an impact with your words or your lens, this class is your starting point.
