Reflection transitions from print to Web

There’s not much that remains the same about the school newspaper. The room hasn’t changed, with computers bordering the walls. Cheryl Jolin is still the adviser, and its name is still The Reflection.

Yet those are the only things that remained same from the 2009-2010 year, the last year before the Reflection was canceled. The classes of 2011 and 2010 are gone, and they made up the entire Staff.

After its one year hiatus, I am the only remaining Staff member from the 09-10 year. The transition is evident, as the piles of newspapers are gone. There are signs on the walls proclaiming the newest members of the staff. The entire paper is online, a transition to keep up with the changing times in journalism.

When I came into Newspaper as a sophomore, I had no idea what to expect. I found a jovial atmosphere with a layer of seriousness underneath. We spent the first weeks being trained in the art of writing articles and designing pages, with an excited Mrs. Jolin at the helm.

There were many jokes, but when it came deadline time, the work was done, and done well.

Despite the transition, the spirit of creativity is still here. The loose, enjoyable atmosphere of a relaxed workplace still remains in Room 1406. Students can be seen diligently typing, but there is never an absence of chatter.

And from the chatter, typing and joking comes well-written articles that are posted immediately to the site. One of the benefits of the online paper is that no article has to be cut for lack of space. While there is something to be said for seeing your name in the physical paper, a certain pride arises from seeing it listed on The Reflection website.

More people will have access to the website than the printed version, another positive for the newspaper. Reaching more readers is always a goal of the paper, and the website offers the opportunity to do just that.

I am excited to be part of the change, and I hope I can help younger staff members build a solid foundation for The Reflection to continue to grow upon.

By Adam Renuart

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