The Importance and Benefits of Middle School Journalism
Back in elementary school, the only yearbooks I’ve ever known were the ones with mug-shots of each student and their class. It sounds pretty boring, and it was. However, at the end of that same yearbook, there were real stories. My favorite part of the yearbook was seeing the photos from the school year. What originally appealed to me about working on the yearbook was reading our school’s stories turned into memories that would last a lifetime.
Middle school journalism has always been a great way for me to connect with my school and peers. Connecting with my peers has been made easy through the yearbook as I get plenty of opportunities to talk with other students about things that happen in and outside of school. Through these conversations, I have felt like I’m a part of the school and things that happen.
“Just get it done,” Mr. Palmer would say to us each time a deadline was fast approaching. I’m a student who’s usually always on top of my work and always meets my deadlines. However, the type of time management required for the yearbook is very different from what I expected. I want to finish my work quickly but it isn’t always easy. I have to find the right time to talk to people and take photos of things happening around the school. At the beginning of the year, these things did not seem like a big deal but as the year progressed, I started to see how important these details were.
Being the yearbook’s editor-in-chief requires strong leadership skills. As the EIC, it is my job to help other staffers with the assignments and responsibilities that come with their job on the yearbook staff. I sometimes have to take the initiative to make sure that my duties are completed as well as the assignments of other staffers.
When you commit to being on the yearbook staff, you must ensure everyone’s story is told. Not just the big stories that most people know about, but the smaller ones too. Everyone’s stories throughout the year matter, and it’s our job to cover them. Through this responsibility, we take the initiative to talk to others, take photos, and pay attention to everything that happens so that we can relay the events of the year accurately. Our goal is to create something that everyone will be able to enjoy.
With all this in mind, there are many benefits to being a part of a middle school journalism program. Being a part of the yearbook staff strengthens many students’ leadership skills and prepares them for future roles where time management is important. Middle school journalism programs will continue to highlight parts of the school year, and I can’t wait to see what future generations will create.