Week on end the newspaper is shooting out articles every week about school updates, opinions, and interesting stories, but what really goes on behind the scenes? 

The staff has a unique relationship; along with being peers, the class has grown to become friends.

“I think we are well bonded. We can ask each other questions,” said sophomore Michelle Duncan. 

“We all like to have fun while maintaining a productive environment,” added sophomore Katy Rivers

But when all is said and done, the staff locks in when needed. The staff has put out over 45 articles just this year and they’re not even close to being done. 

The staff is also very collaborative when it comes to their newest articles.

“Typically we like to discuss it as a group and see if anyone has any new ideas, and then we like to build off of each other on how we can make the article better,” said sophomore Taylor Dixon.

And that’s not all; the staff has to prepare before they even start the article. When it comes to interviews, the class has had to practice to try and get the best answers out of people.

“Somtimes we like to start with questions that we probably won’t use in the article just to get the person more comfortable, and we try to avoid yes or no questions, because the better the quotes are the better the article is going to be,” said Rivers.

After gathering all of their information, the staff begins writing the article. Once the article is submitted, it goes through two rounds of revisions. These edits help improve the writing and make sure everything is accurate before the article is finally published on the website.

“The revisions are very important because it’s important to get a second opinion on your article. Someone might see a mistake that you might have just glanced over, so it can really benefit it,” said Duncan. 

You might think all they do is write stories in class but there really is more to it, along with producing articles the staff also likes to plan holiday parties. 

“We ask the class if they want to have a party around the holiday, and then we go to ask for suggestions and Matthew and I plan them,” said Rivers. 

“It’s such a fun bonding experience. During Secret Santa, we really got to know each other and explore our interests,” added sophomore Gia George.

Behind every article is more than just writing. It takes teamwork, planning, and dedication to publish each story. While most students only see the final product, the Newspaper Staff continues to work hard behind the scenes to keep the school informed.