Ryan Kaspar - News Writer and Editor
For my third year in journalism, I have worked as a news writer and editor and as the Managing Editor. I tend to write stories focused on students' voices and things that will affect them. I most enjoy getting people's voices on issues around campus. It makes me feel like I'm helping others hear their voices and their stories. I've found solace in journalism, as it has helped me to break out of my shell and become more comfortable talking to people I don't know.
Semester 1 Stories
VUSD Board of Education Revises Graduation Requirements
This article was the News section's big story of the semester, and the three of us worked on it. It details how the class of 2028, and all the following classes, will have to take a third year of math. Megan Yang wrote the student section, Ayla Ozturk wrote the school board section, and I did the research and statistics. Research is something I find to be one of my greatest strengths. It allows me to combine two things I greatly enjoy and am good at; journalism and numbers. It helps to paint a better picture and puts the interviews into perspective.
The story explains all aspects of the change to inform those that need to know. For example, it allows the class of 2028 to plan their future schedule with the third year in mind. It also proposes some of the impacts it might have, like some students saying it changes nothing about their future plans to board members saying the third year will lead to increased math proficiency.
Students React: Sanitary Products in Men's Bathrooms
Out of all of them, I think this was my favorite article from the first semester. In it, I talk about the changes involving the distribution of sanitary products on campus, including the new machines and locations. I also talked to two transgender students to get their opinion on a dispenser being placed in a men's room.
The most fun I have in journalism is when I'm getting students' opinions on current news. This story encapsulates that style, in my opinion. It has also inspired me to work toward a sort of 'follow-up' story, where I want to talk about bathroom access to students on campus.
Savannah Torres: Icebreaker Events are Best "in a Long Time"
This was the first article I wrote for this school year. The first icebreaker dance and rally had just happened for the first time since 2019, and ASB president Savannah Torres reflected on how the events went and her plans for the future. This story shows off my skill in interviewing, and I feel like I got a lot of interesting quotes from Savannah.
It was when we were still figuring things out, so I feel like a lot of things were a little rough and unprepared. In a way, I used this article to build off of and improve in the future.
Reflection
Where have I been?
I started taking journalism over quarantine, so this has been my first completely 'normal' year. I almost didn't even take the class. The only reason I could was because I took health and driver's ed over the Summer. I wasn't really sure what I was getting into at first, but I'm so glad I joined in the end.
Where am I now?
The main thing journalism has given me is the ability to come out of my shell and talk to people, even if I don't know them. I also believe it has greatly improved my writing, specifically being able to efficiently get the point across. I have also learned to dig a lot deeper and ask follow-up questions about everything I find out.
Where am I going?
Next semester, I really want to focus on my efficiency regarding stories. For example, I really want to write my stories quicker since I took a while to write many of my previous ones, and I overall want to write more. I also want to write more stories involving students and talk to them more often. Relating to that, I would like to start writing more in-depth pieces as a section, as I was somewhat upset with the ratio of press releases to articles this first semester.