Sept. 11, 2023
Our past three editions
Sept. 6, 2023 A/C in schools • ChatGPT and book bans • AI for sports writing
May 18, 2023 Native American photography • Student expression • Movies
May 11, 2023 School theater • Child labor • King Charles III
THE LEDE
Times releases new College Index to examine economic diversity on campus
Student media outlets could highlight colleges 2023 class attend
The New York Times Friday announced its College Access Index, which is a new version of the publication’s 2017 project, which assists readers in identifying the colleges with classes that were economically diverse prior to the Supreme Court decision banning race-based affirmative action.
In the article, Beloit College in Wisconsin’s president noted the campus doesn’t have some of the amenities (he joked a lazy river), many sports teams and a lot of staff to spend the money on financial aid instead.
What you can do —
As juniors and seniors look at colleges, what are the important parts of academic and campus life for them? Does diversity play a role? How has the challenge of legacy admissions at some schools made them more accessible? Make sure to highlight the colleges and universities popular with your college bound students.
Additionally, it’s a great news peg for including a step-by-step process for applying for financial aid through FAFSA and an introduction to the college application process for those looking to go.
Also, what are options after graduation for students who strive for a different experience. How do they start looking at trade school options?
Noteworthy
Pinterest uses AI to increase body type diversity in search results
Great reminder to revisit, examine coverage
When students use Pinterest to find Homecoming outfit ideas, they will now see results for many different body types. The company already included a skin tone search function in 2018 and a hair pattern one in 2021. Last spring, the American Psychological Association released a report possibly linking body image issues and social media.
What you can do —
Fall often includes Homecoming and Fall Fashion highlights. In addition to a traditional feature coverage on this, it’s a good reminder to journalists to include a wide representation in any fashion content.
What’s viral
Taylor Swift makes a call to all Swifties to go to theater
Examine the influence she has on teens
Taylor Swift has again made history. This time it’s with single-day advance ticket sales of $26 million for her upcoming Eras Tour concert, which will be Oct. 13.
What you can do —
Prior to the movie’s release, what type of buzz has this created in your student body?
The linked article states Swift has encouraged attendees to wear their Eras outfits and bracelets. How are students preparing for the theater event? What type of impact has her image and music had on your students? With her donations to food banks where she plays, it could be a time to examine the effect on local food banks and whether this increased students’ awareness of the need for donations.
With some movie theaters closing, what has the impact of this been on how far students have to travel for the show?
IT’S AN HONOR
Student Advisory Board applications due Sept. 15
Do you want to serve your fellow student journalists and Quill and Scroll members? Join the Student Advisory Board for 2023-24. Applications close Sept. 15.
SAB members will work on projects including establishing a regular communications channel for editors and other student journalists to discuss problems, successes, and coverage; and working on projects and activities that can aid Quill and Scroll chapters.
It’s always membership season
Don’t forget you can nominate members year round
Do you have a senior who just met the GPA requirement or a student who now wants to join Quill and Scroll? Want to avoid the spring rush? Nominate students for membership order pins, cords and other Quill and Scroll materials and memorabilia.
We haven’t changed the ordering process from last year. For those wanting to ditch the paper version, you just need to select the form based on how you would like to pay. We have one version for credit card and another version for check or purchase order. (We’ve added buttons for ease of finding these.) As usual, credit card payments are charged $4.49 per order for processing.
Submit your YEC entries today
Only two weeks until contest closes, submit today
The 2023 Yearbook Excellence Contest is open for entries. The cost for each entry in all 33 categories is $7, and schools will be divided by size — Class A for 1,000 or more students, and Class B for 999 or fewer students,
Entry deadline is Oct. 2, and here is a link to complete descriptions of those 33 categories and how to pay for the entries.
Judges will award first, second and third places in each category for each class, and they’ll award honorable mentions so that between 10 and 15 percent of all entries are recognized in every category. All students named as award recipients will be eligible to apply for Quill and Scroll student scholarships in May of their senior year.
Quill and Scroll administrators will then tally points (5 for first place, 4 for second, 3 for third and 1 for HM) to determine a Blue and Gold Award winner for each class. Last year’s winners were Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (Class A) and Christ Presbyterian Academy of Nashville, Tennessee (Class B).
Here’s a complete list of last year’s winners.
News Media Evaluation results to be released Tuesday
The Quill and Scroll News Media Evaluation results to be announced through Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
The News Media Evaluations provides news media staffs a one-of-a-kind assessment of your publication(s) with constructive comments and suggestions for improvement from qualified evaluators. Judges will provide a thorough analysis and rating to schools, and the evaluation exercise and feedback are instructive and developmental.
We will open this service again in March.
Just a thought
It’s been 22 years since 9/11/2001.
I still remember seeing the news reports when the first tower fell and a plane hit the second. I remember hearing that the Pentagon being hit and the plane crashing in a Philadelphia field.
I remember watching the first-person narratives from those who were there, the stories of those missing and those who we learned had passed.
I remember the journalism that showed the stories of what had happened in New York, Washington D.C. and the Philadelphia field and I will never forget it.
When I taught, I had the poster of the front pages from Sept. 12. As the years progressed, students served as a reminder to me of the importance of journalism when they asked me about Sept. 11, which was a day I questioned humanity. These stories and photos show why journalism matters.
As we know, good journalism is wealth of information. It provides those first-person narratives and strives to provide context for events such as these.
As you begin the year, please take a moment to reflect on the importance of what you do. Whether it’s broadcast, news, online news, yearbook, etc., the job of a student journalist is to show the robust story of the year and provide context.
Please tell it truthfully, ethically and robustly. You may never know the full impact of what you do, but know it matters.
— Lori Keekley
