Have you ever passed by stacks of the Phoenix newspapers in the hallways or classrooms and wondered: What is behind all this? Behind every article, Instagram post and layout decision is a group of high school students who are in charge of the Phoenix.
Journalism is not only an elective class, but a fully-functioning newspaper. The class operates like a professional publication, with different editor roles and responsibilities to accomplish one goal — create a platform that represents the voices of the FHS students.
Unlike nearly every other class, it is run by the students. Students who join the class begin as staff writers and eventually have the option to apply to be on the editorial board and lead the class in producing the newspaper.
“I didn’t really like to write, so I thought that taking the class would make me get better at writing, which would be useful for writing essays,” FHS senior and Editor-in-Chief Smera Jain said.
The Phoenix publishes a new issue every month, following a well-defined production cycle. The process begins with Pitching Day when staff members brainstorm and propose potential article ideas, which are then assigned to individual writers. During Rough Drafts Week, writers conduct interviews and begin drafting their articles under the guidance of the editors. The next week is Final Drafts Week, during which the editors begin to edit the article in the section and start editing. Meanwhile, graphic designers on the Phoenix staff make the graphics for each article.
One of the most intense parts of the cycle, called Production Week, comes following those two weeks of writing and editing. Everyone in the class works nonstop during this busy week; editors design pages using Adobe InDesign, staff writers help edit drafts of the pages, graphic designers finalize the graphics and the editors-in-chief oversee and coordinate the whole process. This week is chaotic and stressful as the collection of drafts transitions into a newspaper.
Even though the two editors-in-chief are the ones running the class, there is a journalism advisor who oversees all of the work they do over the year: FHS English and ELD teacher Emer Martin.
“I think I’m a good fit for this class because I write a lot of articles myself for papers, and I’ve always been a professional writer and a teacher,” Martin said. “I like the relationships I build with students because I often see them for four years, and that’s really nice to see the growth of a student.”
Journalism gives students the unique opportunity to experience working in a publishing organization with important deadlines, which helps prepare students for jobs in the real world.
“I think it’s really cool that we’re able to print and publish every month and have the physical copy of whatever we’re writing in front of our hands,” FHS senior and Editor-in-Chief Zaynab Mohiuddeen said.
A significant benefit students experience from the class is its incorporation across all grades and its continuity throughout their high school career. Even though many FHS students participate in clubs and sports teams, having a community and beginning each school year in a familiar, friendly setting is a huge advantage that improves one’s high school experience.
“Having these upperclassmen guiding me throughout the years was a really nice feeling,” Jain said. “To have someone [to] help you out all the time, and having that support system throughout the years.”
The newspapers you see around campus are more than just a collection of articles, they represent the dedication and effort of the journalists, who are committed to producing engaging and relevant content for the FHS community. So, the next time you come across a stack of newspapers in the hallway or your class, take a moment to read it.
