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Hello, I'm Peter Philpott.
I am a reporter and Editor-in-Chief at the Union Street Journal (USJ), the student newspaper of Cherry Creek High School. I am a junior, and I've been an aspiring journalist since middle school. I love pursuing the stories that mean the most to my fellow students: profiles of new campus clubs, student features, and school sports reports. But I also find the bigger stories thrilling: the ones that connect us as students to our community, state, and nation. I've reported on the Trump administration, the Israel-Hamas war, gun violence, women's rights, racism, and other pivotal issues. I’m proud that much of this work has been recognized with awards from the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and the Colorado Student Media Association.
I am a reporter and Editor-in-Chief at the Union Street Journal (USJ), the student newspaper of Cherry Creek High School. I am a junior, and I've been an aspiring journalist since middle school. I love pursuing the stories that mean the most to my fellow students: profiles of new campus clubs, student features, and school sports reports. But I also find the bigger stories thrilling: the ones that connect us as students to our community, state, and nation. I've reported on the Trump administration, the Israel-Hamas war, gun violence, women's rights, racism, and other pivotal issues. I’m proud that much of this work has been recognized with awards from the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and the Colorado Student Media Association.
In the leadership positions I've held on the USJ for the last three years, my most important role has been to teach, coach, and learn alongside rising journalists and storytellers. That means I'm always working with my staff, including new writers, to refine our craft and find joy in our work. Through writing stories, designing our newsmagazine, and mastering the flairs of photojournalism, my staff and I have worked together to find creative angles and intriguing perspectives to share. Our job as student journalists is to solve problems, hone our skills, and develop mature voices through writing. That growth is what I try to promote daily, through leadership as Editor-in-Chief and through example as a fellow reporter.
In the leadership positions I've held on the USJ for the last three years, my most important role has been to teach, coach, and learn alongside rising journalists and storytellers. That means I'm always working with my staff, including new writers, to refine our craft and find joy in our work. Through writing stories, designing our newsmagazine, and mastering the flairs of photojournalism, my staff and I have worked together to find creative angles and intriguing perspectives to share. Our job as student journalists is to solve problems, hone our skills, and develop mature voices through writing. That growth is what I try to promote daily, through leadership as Editor-in-Chief and through example as a fellow reporter.
It is a privilege to be a school news journalist. I work daily amid a swirl of different opinions, perspectives, and backgrounds. The people I've had a chance to meet and interview over my years in journalism have inspired me with their distinctive insights on life. They include a freshman TED talker, who taught me about ambition and commitment; student gun violence protesters, who taught me about resistance and courage; a local rabbi, who taught me about peace and forgiveness; and many others. As a student press, we play an extraordinary role – to help students see their school and community in new ways – and I am grateful that I've had so many opportunities to forge these connections.
It is a privilege to be a school news journalist. I work daily amid a swirl of different opinions, perspectives, and backgrounds. The people I've had a chance to meet and interview over my years in journalism have inspired me with their distinctive insights on life. They include a freshman TED talker, who taught me about ambition and commitment; student gun violence protesters, who taught me about resistance and courage; a local rabbi, who taught me about peace and forgiveness; and many others. As a student press, we play an extraordinary role – to help students see their school and community in new ways – and I am grateful that I've had so many opportunities to forge these connections.
Like my peers, I also use my media platform to explore and share my interests. I've had opportunities to write about school music performances, my favorite TV shows, and baseball (about which I write an award-winning column, Peanuts and Cracker Jack). When I'm not working on journalism, you can find me prepping for a government exam, practicing trumpet, taking artistic photographs, or volunteering at Wings over the Rockies.
Like my peers, I also use my media platform to explore and share my interests. I've had opportunities to write about school music performances, my favorite TV shows, and baseball (about which I write an award-winning column, Peanuts and Cracker Jack). When I'm not working on journalism, you can find me prepping for a government exam, practicing trumpet, taking artistic photographs, or volunteering at Wings over the Rockies.
Please click below to view the Union St. Journal's website, my full portfolio of work, and my photography Instagram account.
Please click below to view the Union St. Journal's website, my full portfolio of work, and my photography Instagram account.
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