When Vandalism StrikesI was the only returning staff member on this story. Producing a story along with training new staff members can be a lot to juggle. However, I feel like I was able to manage both tasks well. This was the moment in Blue Jay Journal TV where I gained confidence and knew I could do this for a career.
Ultimately, this story needed to be told. Vandalism at my high school school is on the rise and has had a negative effect. However, it was a challenge to get adults to open up about this situation. But, we wanted to focus the man concept of the story to simply present the truth to viewers. |
Homeless in the MidwestIn Blue Jay Journal TV, we are expected to produce a story by ourselves without assistance from other staff members at least once a year. This issue was in the back of my mind when I was honored at Rotary Student of the Month in November. The Franklin County Homeless Task Force spoke at the same luncheon I was honored at. As I listened to them explain the severity of the situation, I felt like more people in my community needed to hear this story.
When I started working on this story, I felt like it was missing a key element. Yes, it is important to hear officials talk about homelessness, but when someone who has lived that life shares their story it carries more weight. I decided to include Codie Pointer, a new youth pastor at First Christian Church in Union, who experienced homelessness in his youth. |
GSA at WHSGoing into this story, I didn't know a lot about Gay-Straight Alliance, and it intrigued me. Living in a very conservative Midwest town, I also believed the community should know more about it too.
Getting interviews was a bit challenging since the club is very small, but I managed to get a handful of members and one sponsor to share their story. Overall, I hope this story brings more awareness about the Gay-Straight Alliance club and what they do. I'm glad I had the opportunity to learn more about this diverse organization. |
Operation Puzzle PieceAt the start of my junior year, a fellow Blue Jay Journal TV member and I were given an assignment to partner with two Washington High School DECA students to create a PSA for their project, which was centered around the Cocoa Cafe. This is a school-run breakfast hub that our Life Skills students manage.
After producing the PSA, I instantly knew this was a topic that would make for a heartfelt feature story. Seeing this story come together gave me a feeling of accomplishment and pride because I knew others would love this story as much as I did. I also believe in promoting programs that help those with mental and physical challenges feel more included and interact with their peers. |