Journalism Goes Totally Digital

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By Nayeli Sanchez

After a quarter century, journalism teacher Mr. Rana Medhi continues to teach beginning and advanced journalism at Pueblo Magnet High School. He was specifically hired in 1992 to rejuvenate the program.

From 1988 until Medhi was hired in 1992, Pueblo did not have a journalism program.

“I was shocked to learn that a high school did not have a journalism program when I interviewed for this job a million years ago,” Medhi said. “At that time in public schools, especially in T.U.S.D., all high schools had a newspaper department.”

Over the years, Medhi said that he has seen an improvement not only in his program but also students commitment for his journalism programs.

“Student participation has increased a great deal over the years,” Medhi said. “Only four students enrolled in the program my first year. The next year, I had more than 40 students involved in journalism. That figure has stayed at about that number over the past 20 years, but I also could and would love to teach 100 students the craft and art of journalism.”

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Lauren Ahern, 2016-2017 Editor-in-Chief, with Advisor Mr. Medhi

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Medhi took “a break” from teaching journalism at Pueblo to earn his master’s in education administration. Since 2002, however, he has continuously taught two levels of journalism.

“[Advancements in] technology have made it easier for us to create our newspapers and make them pieces of art,” Medhi said. “The graphics are becoming easier to learn all of the time, and students love this aspect of journalism. Not only are the articles interesting, but their layout is creative.”

Most of students’ stories are posted on the school’s official website; by the end of the school year, students will write an average of 150 stories. And at the end of the year, a hard copy has been a tradition and definitely an expectation, which focuses teacher retirements, spring sports programs and, overwhelmingly, senior-related articles.

Efforts are currently happening to assign specific curricula to students. For example, one or two students could be in charge of all magnet-related stories; another one or two students could cover all science stories. Medhi said that all facets of school life should be reported.

“Our goal is to not leave anybody out of our stories,” he added. “All members of the Pueblo community are unique, hard-working and vital to the Pueblo family.”

Editor-in-chief Lauren Ahern, a senior, has been a devoted member of the journalism program for three years and has great visions for 2016-17.

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