It is no secret that news is more accessible in this era than ever before. From social networks, to smartphones, to school-provided computers, it often seems that all the knowledge in the world can be accessed by the click of a button. As a result, many students fail to appreciate the value of a school newspaper. While staffing the school paper is an accessory to any resume, both reading and contributing are vital; herein lies the school paper’s true virtue. As a student-governed publication, the newspaper is less of a traditional news source and more of a tool which serves not only to advance certain academic skills but also to influence authority.
Creative Outlet
Like literature, painting, singing, and other traditional art forms, the school newspaper is a platform for creative expression. While more direct forms of journalistic expression are the norm for newspapers such as this one, other written forms of expression are effective and potent. Furthermore, because our school’s newspaper is entirely digital, the scope of expression is widened immensely. From the traditional editorial, word search, and trivia, to the modern video, audio, and photo, the Mane News, in particular, offers innumerable possibilities. I don’t say this to advertise the paper, nor to recruit staff writers; I say this, rather, to highlight the Newspaper’s versatility. There is a common misconception that one who contributes to the paper ought to be an “A+” writer. However, especially with the new technological frontier, popular skillsets have expanded far beyond the ability to write well. As a result, a school newspaper is often much more resonant, pertinent, and interesting to students. .
Improved Writing Skills
Somewhat in contrast with the previous point, the primary purpose, and thus the primary media of a newspaper, is writing. It is commonly accepted that the best way to improve one’s writing is not only by ample writing practice, but also by reading. Again, in this age of instant communication, limited characters, and constant feed of diverse information, scientists conjecture that people, especially young people, are losing patience and focus (thus I have divided this article neatly into four headings). For this reason, the short integrated articles that the Mane News offers, the assorted media for presenting information, and the diverse topics that appeal to students are all an indispensable luxury that students should have access to in full. Consequently, students will become better, more sophisticated writers just by reading their peers articles. Although the digital paper accommodates students’ sundry self-expression, at its core, a school newspaper involves writing, and, if this is what motivates you, could be that long awaited bump in your English grade.
Improved Argumentation and Persuasion Skills
One significant component of a school newspaper, which is often a distinguishing factor from national and local newspapers, is the abundance of student opinion. While I will focus more on the value allotted to the actual expression of such opinions in the next heading, for now I wish to emphasize skills that the newspaper improves. Whether an argument is written, filmed, or expressed through any other medium, the intentional nature involved in contributing to a school paper develops argumentation and persuasion skills. Of course, the mechanics of, and tactics for, persuasive writing grant an opportunity for development, but the ability to construct a coherent and well-considered argument is a skill that everyone should seek to improve. Perhaps you want to convince your teacher that you did, in fact, complete the homework assignment that you “left at home” or persuade your friends that if dogs wore pants they would solely cover the dogs’ back legs. Regardless, the ability to formulate a good argument must not go underappreciated. Furthermore, through provoking pertinent discussion and debate, a school newspaper also teaches its community how to receive and respond to a claim civil; this, too, is invaluable.
As students, we spend an average of 60 to 80 percent of each day at school. While the Industrial Revolution, the conjugations of the verb “hablar”, and whatever “X” equals can provide some rich conversations, students need to be discussing bigger political, social, economic, and cultural events in order to survive outside of school. A school, at its core, is an educational institution; however, there is a limit to how much of this conversation teachers can facilitate. Realistically, students must take on the responsibility of facilitating these discussions, exposing themselves to new ideas, and leading conversations in the direction that they desire; an active school newspaper is an obvious platform for this.
Student Autonomy, and Ability to Affect Change
As I just alluded to, a student-led newspaper is synonymous with power. Not only can students direct common, school-wide conversation, but they can also do so in a public forum and use that to achieve goals. With the aforementioned argumentation skills, the school newspaper promotes the distribution of organic and often candid, yet well-stated ideas. Therefore, the result is a clean, influential product, ideal for attracting the attention of other students and, more significantly, the faculty and administration, to the issues that are pertinent to students. Too often do I hear students complain about their lack of influence, their teachers’ inability to understand students, and the administration’s reluctance to listen. These qualms are no less caused by stress and anxiety than they are by the unintentional self-isolation of students, who lack the proper medium through which to convey their best ideas, most pressing concerns, and candid feedback. Moreover, too often do students underestimate, underappreciate, and miscomprehend the noble desire of faculty and administrators alike to serve and provide for the community of students that characterizes a school. The school newspaper bridges that gap.
With a newspaper, students can provide sophisticated feedback, express various opinions in a variety of ways, and build universally important skills, all while gaining and maintaining the attention and respect of their audience. In addition to perpetuating persuasive skills, school newspapers have and always will simply be a well-respected and well-rounded tool; thus they ought to be well utilized.