November 5-10, the journalism Staff at Arlington High School went on a trip to Philadelphia’s National High School Journalism convention, but what did they learn? how will this affect the program?
Editor in Chief Chloe Falk (12) helps to explain just what exactly NHSJC is.
“These conventions happen every year, it’s like nationals for journalism and a bunch of different schools come together and get different speakers whether that’s advisors, students, or professionals in journalism.” Falk Said. “It’s like taking classes from people around the country.”
Falk used this convention to help to better herself as a journalist by learning various different skills.
“I think I took away a better understanding of my role in the classroom, and how in order to get people to listen to me I need to be more active in the classroom compared to years prior.” Falk said.
Photo editor Kailey Bisson (12) here at AHS staff explains what she took away from NHSJC and how our program as a whole can improve.
“Almost all my sessions were about being an editor and how to make my photography better. So I think with everything that I learned I could help other people in our class be a better photographer, and be a better journalist all around.” Bisson said. “I think the way that we are striving to improve is to work together more instead of us all having our own individual strengths and weaknesses.”
Bisson even admits her own flaws and how attending NHSJC helped her to directly become a better journalist.
“I suck at talking to people and especially interviewing so in those classes I met a lot of different people who I could carry in a conversation with by learning things from the first day of the conference.” Bisson said.
Sophomore Pedro Ponce-Esparza, says that he personally has learned a lot from the convention and hopes to use the new skills that he has learned from the convention to improve his leadership and interviewing skills.
“What I learned was that when talking to someone, you have to be vulnerable with them so that they can be vulnerable with you. So when you ask them about a sensitive topic they open up with you instead of trying to hide it away from you.” Ponce-Espararza said. “When it comes to being a good leader it’s better to never work alone. As a leader you’re supposed to help lead, but you also have to learn when to follow and admit when you need help.”
