News Journalism has been one of my favorite classes throughout my sophomore year. I originally walked into the news room knowing nothing other than how to write a good English story and use basic technology for my daily life. What more could I need to know right? I was wrong, Black and Redgister news team has taught me an abundance of new skills and valuable lessons that I will take with me and apply to my life for many years to come. Each one carefully learned through the process of experience and figuring what to do next right in the moment.
Before joining the Black and Redgister staff I had no idea how to use a camera other than my basic iPhone camera. Then within my first month of being on staff I took on the story of capturing JV State dance for the JV dance team. I chose to take photos and make a gallery to tell this story, thinking it would be easy. But cameras are more complicated than you think or maybe than I think. Thankfully Mrs. Basinger gave me a short crash course on camera basics and off I went. Luckily nothing bad happened while I was shooting photos and I was able to take that experience to learn more through the moment. Learning how to properly use a camera, what settings to use, how to position the camera, when to take action shots the list goes on and on.
Later in March I got time to experiment with my photography skills. March brings State basketball and every game brings a story. This was probably my favorite experience throughout the entire year. During this game though I forgot my SD card. Another learning experience for me, what do you do? Thankfully another photographer had an extra. Other than just learning how to handle a stressful situation while trying to create a good story, I also picked up on what lenses to use and how to shoot with them.
I did learn much more than just how to shoot photos with a camera. One big idea that I really learned was communication. It’s shocking, everyone knows how to communicate. Yes, I am able to talk to people but I’ve never been great at walking up to a new person and shaking their hand or introducing myself until Journalism almost forced me to. I’m now confident in meeting new people and being able to ask them intriguing questions without feeling extremely awkward.
Another part of communication is being able to talk with my editors and take their feedback to enhance my stories even more. This feedback has detail and made me realize collaboration makes my stories so much better. Multiple perspectives and outside insight completes the stories to be more engaging. Overtime after each and every deadline the feedback would hit me and I would realize how valuable others thoughts and recommendations are for all stories.
The last criteria I want to touch on is making new friends and talking to some really nice people that I enjoy being around. Editor-in-Chief Caleb Klassen made sure we always had time for staff bonding or just a fun stress relieving brain break. I’ll never forget our pipe cleaner and tin foil creations that eventually battled it out at the end of class. The news Olympics too were such memorable events. Every bonding or fun experience grew this staff closer together each time. In all of those moments I learned that friendship, trust, and kindness is the most important for creating an impeccable news team.
Each class period and time spent on stories outside of class has been a time to remember. All experience were learning moments even in the smallest of ways. Thank you Black and Redgister for each lesson I learned.
