Commitment to Diversity

What I love most about journalism is the opportunity it gives you to be someone else’s voice. It allows you to shed light on people and experiences that may otherwise go unseen. As the Co-Editor-in-Chief of my newspaper, I have a very strong commitment to ensuring that our coverage reflects the diversity of our school community. I work hard to make all communities and types of people recognized. Our community and our staff are so vibrant because of our diversity, and that deserves to be nourished.

Pitch Board Sessions

During our newsroom pitch board sessions, I make sure that story ideas reflect the experiences of multiple groups within our school community. When discussing potential coverage, I encourage writers to think broadly about who is represented in a story and to consider perspectives that might otherwise be overlooked. For example, rather than repeatedly interviewing the captain of the football team, I push our staff to seek out other voices, like the hardworking sophomore who may be just as passionate about the program. This approach helps us move beyond covering the same voices repeatedly and instead highlights a wider range of students and experiences.

Seeking Out Stories

If something important happens in our school community or if a student or group deserves recognition, I actively encourage writers to pursue the story. However, if no one volunteers to cover it, I will take responsibility for reporting on it myself. By doing this, I ensure that meaningful stories and voices are not left out of our coverage simply because they were not initially assigned.

Staff Culture and Inclusion

Diversity is not only reflected in the stories we tell, but also in the culture of the newsroom itself. Our staff brings together students with different backgrounds, interests, and perspectives. As the Co-Editor-in-Chief, I work to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing ideas. On our staff, friendships are not defined by race, gender, or grade level. Instead, we have built a supportive environment where collaboration and respect come first.

Over time, this culture has led many staff members to describe our newsroom as a “framily," a combination of friends and family. This sense of belonging encourages open discussions where every staff member feels valued and heard.

Mission Statement

At The Howler, our mission reflects our commitment to meaningful journalism, inclusive storytelling, and service to our school community. The statement below outlines the purpose that guides our reporting and the goals we strive to achieve as student journalists.

"The Howler at Wakefield High School is a multi-award-winning group of student journalists striving to inspire thought-provoking conversations amongst our audience and to foster a sense of community through relevant and newsworthy coverage. Our staff aims to offer a voice for all people, recognize achievements within our school, and provide information that will be useful to our community. We hope to inspire the future generation of journalists, authors, and more by fostering optimism and accurately presenting information."

Representing All Voices

In a collaborative newsroom, leadership must reflect the perspectives of the entire staff. I always make a conscious effort to ensure that decisions are not shaped only by the most vocal members or those who hold editorial titles. I work to listen to and consider the ideas of every staff member. Through encouraging open discussions and actively seeking input from quieter voices, I have created an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas.

Additionally, on our website, we have a graphic that encourages people to submit their own editorials to The Howler. By inviting students, staff, and community members to contribute their perspectives, we open our platform to voices beyond our newsroom.

I am also the president of Wakefield's National English Society, where we offer an hour opportunity for members to submit their own editorials to The Howler. I always encourage club members to give editorial writing a shot, and I love to have guest writers published on our website!

As a staff, we also write stories like “Wakefield welcomes new teachers” and “Meet our office staff” to intentionally highlight individuals who play important roles in the school but may not always be recognized in student journalism. These stories recognize the work behind the scenes that plays a big role in the Wakefield community. By featuring staff members from a variety of departments and backgrounds, these stories broaden the perspectives represented on our platform.

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