(RSS)
Story’s just begun for Shasta High paper
Dear Shasta High School newspaper students,
You have my deepest sympathies regarding the death of the Shasta High Volcano, your school newspaper.
I’m also saddened to hear that your MIA adviser allowed you to take the heat for a few students’ controversial actions.
In the corporate newspaper world, that’s called “throwing your people under the bus.”
The whole situation sucks.
As a 1974 Shasta High graduate, I assure you that your school has a long history of publishing its own newspaper.
I started to say the Volcano has a long “honorable” history. But that would be wrong, because you can bet that throughout Shasta’s history, some Volcano editions were not honorable. Some may have been real stinkers.
In fact, I’ll bet — to quote our president — mistakes were made at the Volcano along the way, perhaps even by Shasta High students during your grandparents’ era, and before: Unfortunate word choices. Sensational stories. Provocative photos. Misquotes. Made-up quotes. Plagiarism. Sophomoric writing (even from juniors and seniors).
Cut yourselves some slack. Blunders occur even at the best newspapers. Why? Because humans provide newspaper content, and humans screw up. We can only hope that those screw-ups will allow us opportunities to learn, especially when the stakes are low enough not to bring serious harm.
Speaking of royal screw-ups, it’s been said that your principal ended the Volcano because of what he believed was inappropriate editorial content in your newspaper’s last issue. Supposedly, the offending content centered on your paper’s cover photo with many images, including a young man setting fire to an American flag. An opinion piece inside the Volcano defended Americans’ right to do that.
Strangely, your principal offered two reasons for killing The Volcano. 1. Objectionable content (see above) and 2. Budget issues.
Although it would have been wiser for your principal to pick just one, I’m guessing he now wishes with all his heart that he’d chosen Door No. 2.
See, budget cuts are boring. Shutting down a student newspaper over a free-speech issue is a hot-button, radioactive story.
Trust me when I say that eventually, this story will die down. Summer will pass. Public attention will move elsewhere.
And Shasta High School will begin. Without the Volcano.
What if that’s not such a bad thing?
What if you ditched the old-school, paper-wasting newspaper? What if you published an interactive, really cool online version of your Volcano on a Web site?
You’re perfect for it. Nobody’s more plugged in than you and your peers. Besides, paper’s so passé.
Gather some dedicated, bright and dependable high school writers, photographers and techie people.
You can do this.
Imagine the perks of an online student newspaper. You and your fellow newspaper staffers could beam your stories, photos, audio and video clips to one another electronically. From anywhere.
You’ll be the envy of high schools that still publish newspapers pretty much as their grandparents did.
You’ll gain the admiration of many when you rise up to creatively overcome this dramatic setback.
No college essay would match yours when you recount your story of how you turned initial defeat into eventual achievement.
Best of all, the joy and success of your online newspaper may cause you to fall so madly in love with journalism that you’ll pursue it in college. There, you’ll be light years ahead of the paper-and-ink-trained high school students.
But first, I do recommend you find an adult, online-savvy journalism adviser, one who’ll teach you and guide you, one who’ll stand beside you. Even in your darkest hours.
Find someone who’ll remind you that just because you have the right to do something in a newspaper, and just because you can do something in a newspaper — doesn’t mean you should, or that it’s a good idea.
After that, the rest is simple. Write on, Shasta High journalism students.
Sincerely,
Doni Greenberg
Former newspaper journalist
26 views
Doni wrote: “We can only hope that those screw-ups will allow us opportunities to learn, ”
And school administrators have certainly missed an opportunity here. The school has “no money” for educating journalists, but will snap up $100,000 dollars to drug test their students. Now THAT’S a disturbing picture.
You know, that particular cover of the Shasta High Volcano is probably some of the best Photoshop work I have ever seen come out of that paper.
Kudos for that, at least.
Doni, you’re right about online being the way to go. U-Prep has a student-run online newsletter that’s been prospering for a while. It definitely cuts costs of the “old-fashioned” paper version, and students are way more plugged in to the more current technology…
http://www.ontheprowl.net/
Doni…I too am saddened to hear of “The Volcano’s” demise. It was an old paper, started in the 40’s I think. It had won many awards through the years and had always been printed with pictures as opposed to mimeograph.
As a former high school editor, with a small staff, I soon learned I had to write most of the copy, take the pictures and sell the ads. Faculty was sometimes too harsh on content and we tried to make it more entertaining than boring and educational. I like Phil Fountain’s blog and check it as much as “Food For Thought”.
The idea of going for a web site is a good idea. excellent, in fact. Costs are lower with a larger audience, the internet is faster at breaking news and readers reaction comes alot quicker as you know well.
The Volcano has a new editor in the wings whose ready to line up a serious Staff of budding journalists if she gets the administration’s approval.
I wish her good luck at the dificult task of continuing this historic paper.
The story I heard (from staff at Shasta High), was that the decision had been already made to cut the paper for budgetary reasons a couple of days before the now infamous front page story. Principal Woodard may have misquoted by the paper? (oh no! Say it ain’t so!)
It is a sad day when our State is so broke we can’t properly train our kids for life after High School.
All I remember the story saying was Principal Woollard said this incident cemented his decision to shut the paper down. I don’t see a misquote there, but I do see that maybe you should revisit the article because you couldn’t even get his last name right. Maybe you’re off on the other facts too.
Doni, that’s genius. Anderson New Tech High School (ANTHS.org) started an online paper this year called The Download, and did a terrific job.
(Say, aren’t you on the advisory board of Chico’s award-winning student newspaper The Orion?)
Roger that, Kelly regarding my position on Chico’s journalism advisory board. (CSU Chico’s journalism department includes news/editorial and public relations. And yes, the Orion is widely respected as an award-winning college paper.)
Yes, use it as a learning opportunity. Yes, publish on line.
Yes, let the Volcano errupt. A source of pride, Purple and White, only to be outshined by the Red,White and Blue. I do not believe in flag burning, but am so proud of many of our classmates, friends, as well as a son stood up for our right, in way too many wars, to express an opinion, however un popular.
One of many of the
“Girls of ‘47″ .
Right on Vivian, Good Girl……..Class of 51 Marv
Way to go….yes, traditional newspaper are rapidly losing their readership, and their support. Local subscribers are following suit. But the online approach is growing daily…so have at it Shasta High. Continue leading, like the leader you are.
Ron Largent
Given some time, the higher ups rethought the whole thing. Next year is a whole new day.