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Diversity in the Mason Community
Diversity in the Mason Community
Mason City Schools is a very diverse district and has the largest high school in Ohio; it is our responsibility as a newspaper to cover the stories of all different types of people. Throughout the year, it has been my goal to feature the stories of students who have something unique about them, whether that is their culture, a hobby, or a job.
Similarly, it is my job as editor-in-chief to encourage our staff members to write for a variety of sections of the paper. One initiative I put in place was having a column assignment. In past years, our columns in each edition were written by a group of around five people. To overcome some writers' anxieties about writing an opinion, every staff member had to turn one in to us editors. From there, we were able to give them feedback and get them published throughout the year. By the end of our first semester, every column space in our paper was filled by a different person. Overall, a diverse number of perspectives were shared, and we published one of our first sports editorials.
Mia and Me
Mia and Me
Starting my Junior year, I began “Friend-sitting” Mia Ruge, a 21-year-old who has an autism spectrum disorder, which affects how she learns and processes the world. Ruge had just moved to Mason, Ohio, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was in search of a friend to hang out with. In helping Ruge adjust to life in Mason, I took her to local restaurants and activities to gain an understanding of her surroundings.
One day, while we were together, Ruge showed me her old high school’s magazine where she was featured on the cover. She was so proud that her story and legacy would be left in her own home through an article. This moment helped me to reflect on The Chronicle, where we highlight enough voices from all backgrounds and abilities. I also had a moment of realization that a high school newspaper is a capsule of a student body that people will look back on in their future.
With these two ideas in mind, I challenged my staff members to think outside the box when thinking of who to feature in our paper.
Stories Published Under My Leadership: Spotlighting Diverse Voices
Stories Published Under My Leadership: Spotlighting Diverse Voices
November 2025 print edition.
October 2025 print edition.
December 2025 print edition.
November 2025 print edition.
Staff Recruitment
Staff Recruitment
Recruitment ad we put in our newspaper and around the school before our January application deadline.
The Chronicle's staff is picked through a selective application and interview process. Each year, we have 25 or more people apply to be a part of our staff, and we typically accept 10 people. This practice allows us to curate a diverse staff of qualified writers. To ensure that all types of people feel comfortable applying for The Chronicle, we visit freshman English classes to speak with students and ask teachers to recommend academically inclined students. We also make sure to post content on our socials that displays our commitment to diversity and the opportunities we have by being on The Chronicle.
One example is "Chronicle Travels," where each summer, staff members take a photo with our newspaper in a unique location. I also recognize the importance retention rate has on staff, and for the first time in over three years, no one left the staff after the first semester.
Each photo taken with Chronicle members displays a tight-knit group.
My "Chronicle Travels" photo from the summer of 2025.
Another example of content posted to display unity among staff. Having a diverse editorial team allows us to make informed decisions and bring differing standpoints to conversations.
Personally Experiencing Diverse Communities
Personally Experiencing Diverse Communities
MHS05 (2) (1).pdfFeature story published in the November 2023 print edition of The Chronicle during my time as a staff writer.
In writing a story about the Black Student Union hosting their own school dance, I had the opportunity to sit in on the club's meeting. The topics between these students opened my eyes to the struggles that African-American students face at school and the microaggressions they can face daily.
In writing a story about the Black Student Union hosting their own school dance, I had the opportunity to sit in on the club's meeting. The topics between these students opened my eyes to the struggles that African-American students face at school and the microaggressions they can face daily.
Being on a staff with people of many different cultures has allowed me to explore traditions different than my own.
At our staff "Chronsgiving", each person is encouraged to bring in a dish from their own culture for our potluck-style meal. Everyone was then able to try a new one that holds importance to their fellow staff members.
With our staff being almost family-like, we attend each other's graduation parties and similar celebrations. The photo on the right is when Ruhi Kaneria and I were at a birthday party and wore traditional Indian attire.
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