School and Community Winter 2023

Right: Student journalists often brave the elements and find unique perspectives to capture stories through photography. The cover of the 2021-22 edition of The Rebel yearbook was designed by former editor-in chief Dacie Ritch. The design was awarded second place in the 2022 Quill & Scroll Yearbook Excellence Contest. Left: This photo of a basketball game by McKenna McBroom was awarded first place in the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association’s December Photo of the Month Contest. date, my students have captured cover art for five different national magazines, as well as for baseball cards and magazines, posters, giveaways and more. I cannot explain the value of taking a student outside of their normal classroom coverage rut and letting them be a part of the national or state media. Learning how to sharpen their skills on a bigger level, even if it’s a local rodeo, is invaluable. Experiencing something outside their norm forces them to think differently, photograph differently and work differently - all making them better prepared, more well-rounded journalists. I would encourage teachers to find a way to motivate their students to challenge themselves. One of the ways that we do this is through state and national photo contests. Even if they don’t win, many of the contests come with a review or critique of their work that can help them become better at what they do. However, my caveat is that everyone must be on the same team. When we participate in contests, everyone on staff is happy no matter who wins. I’ve had All-State journalists not win anything in a national competition, while one of our incoming freshmen takes home first place. It is especially important for editors to take as much pride and joy in the work of their staff as they do in their own work. If that can be cultivated in an organization (yearbook staff, business staff, or anywhere else), you are going to have an excellent team with a fantastic culture. This is not to say that they are not going to have their moments of doubt and trepidation but, overall, if they cheer for one another and have each other’s backs, things will work out well in the end.

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