Do you have a passion for storytelling? Are you eager to get involved with a club or activity at your high school but don’t know where to start? Is English your best subject? Do you like getting the inside scoop before anyone else does? 

These are all great reasons to join your high school’s newspaper, a club that can set you up for social, academic, and career success. 

Most high schools in the United States, particularly big public schools, have school newspapers. They typically cover school-related events and activities, such as sporting events, dances, parades, and more. They may also have op-ed sections where students can voice their opinions about important issues or events happening on and off school grounds.  

In this article, we dive into the many different positions you could have with your school newspaper and explain just how valuable of an experience working for your school newspaper can be.

Potential positions at the student newspaper

High school newspapers range in size, significance, and format. Some schools still publish print newspapers as often as once a week. Other schools’ publications, however, may be entirely online and only published every once in a while. 

Although school papers may have faculty member advisors, they are typically staffed and managed entirely by students. Like professional papers, school newspapers often have reporters, editors, photographers, publishers, cartoonists, and sales/marketing representatives. 

Reporter

Reporter is the most common job at school newspapers. Reporters are often the ones who come up with story ideas, interview people, and write the first drafts of news stories. 

While reporters do have to be good, clear writers, it is also very important that reporters are intuitive, creative, sociable, and efficient. Good reporters are those who know what their audience is looking for and can put together a clear and compelling story that is accurate and easy to understand. In reporting, understanding the wants and needs of the audience is just as important as understanding things like style and grammar. 

Editor

There are quite a few different types of editors, and their specific titles vary by publication. But, ideally, your school newspaper has both copy editors and section/department editors. 

Almost all publications, no matter how big or small, have at least one copy editor. These editors are grammar and punctuation experts. They know the AP stylebook front to back and are primarily responsible for making sure there are no specific errors in reporters’ writing. At big publications, copy editors typically only focus on grammar and punctuation. However, at publications with limited staff, copy editors may take on a bigger role. 

Section editors (also known as department editors) are usually in charge of one section of a publication. For example, your high school paper may have a sports editor, a culture editor, and an entertainment editor. Section editors typically focus on improving the flow and readability of articles. They are the ones who may change the wording in sentences or adjust the order of paragraphs, for example. But if your publication does not have copy editors, section editors may also edit for grammar and punctuation. 

Photographer

As the cliche goes, “a picture is worth 1,000 words.” Photography is critical to the appeal and success of a newspaper. Pictures tell and support stories. It is way easier for a reader to understand a story when it includes images. 

For example, what would a story about the state championship football game be without an image of the quarterback throwing the game-winning touchdown? 

Publisher

Put simply, publishers are tasked with publishing the finished product so that it can be distributed to the student body. 

If your school still publishes print copies, publishers may use programs like Adobe InDesign to format articles, images, and advertisements so that they fit onto the pages of the publication. If your school paper is online, publishers may work on Content Management Systems (CMS), such as WordPress or Joomla, to publish content.

Sales/Marketing

All professional publications have to have a sales/marketing team. Newspapers wouldn’t survive without advertisements and readers to consume those advertisements. 

While the mission of starting a high school newspaper is not to make money, some high school papers do run ads to cover the cost of printing expenses and to give them money to host events. 

Marketing individuals can help market the newspaper so that it is picked up and read by more students. For example, a couple of marketing techniques could include putting stacks of newspapers in convenient locations where a lot of students walk and passing them out to students in the hallways.

So if you’re more interested in sales and marketing than writing and editing, you can still be a part of your school’s paper. And, again, if there are currently no sales or marketing positions at your school’s newspaper, inquire with the advisor!

Cartoonist

Although this may seem like a thing of the past, nearly every newspaper used to include cartoons. Most newspaper cartoons are satirical and touch on current events and/or social issues. 

If you’re interested in drawing cartoons and your school’s newspaper doesn’t currently have them, reach out to the newspaper’s faculty advisor and see if it can become an option. The worst they can say is no! 

Benefits of joining the student newspaper

There are tons of advantages to joining any type of extracurricular activity in high school. Not only will they make you more appealing to colleges and universities, but extracurriculars have also been proven to lead to better academic, health, and career outcomes.

And your high school newspaper is one of the most rewarding extracurriculars out there. 

Note: If you’re reading this article and are thinking the school paper might not be the best fit, know that there are dozens of other clubs and organizations that you can join. 

Improve college/university admissions chances

Although academics are without a doubt the most important part of your college application, they are not the only thing that colleges and universities care about. Institutions want to admit applicants who, on top of being stellar students, are passionate about extracurricular activities, such as student newspapers.

“Admission folks are looking for students who are going to come to their college and contribute beyond the classroom,” Dr. Belinda Wilkerson, an independent educational consultant and founder and owner of Steps to The Future, told TUN. “The only way for them to know what students will do beyond the classroom, or what they have the potential to do beyond the classroom, is to look at that activities list.”

Boost writing skills 

Working for the school newspaper, particularly as a reporter or editor, will fine-tune your writing and grammar skills, which will benefit you throughout your entire life. 

You’ll get a ton of practice writing and editing without the added pressure of doing it for grades. Ultimately, that practice will translate to your high school classes, help you get better test scores, help you write a stellar college essay, boost your confidence, help you get good grades in college, and translate to your future career. 

It doesn’t matter what subject you’re interested in majoring in or what career you ultimately want to pursue. Having great writing skills will always benefit you. 

Boost professional skills 

Compared to other campus clubs and activities, the school newspaper is extremely close to a professional organization. Although they aren’t intended to make money, properly run school newspapers are very similar to professional newspapers in terms of structure and goals. 

As a member of the school newspaper, you’ll build professional skills that you can carry with you to college and throughout your career. For example, tight deadlines and time-sensitive responsibilities will teach you time management skills. You’ll learn how to effectively work as a member of a team. You’ll better understand the leadership structures of organizations and, if you stick with the paper, you’ll likely gain experience in a leadership role. 

Pave the way for a career in journalism

If you already know that you want to pursue a career in journalism, you absolutely should join your school newspaper. You’ll gain a ton of valuable experience and develop a fundamental understanding of how publications run. 

Not all career paths can be tested in high school. For example, you don’t really know what the day-to-day tasks of being a doctor or lawyer entail until you’re far into your education and are able to land an internship or apprenticeship. However, by being a member of your high school newspaper, you can grasp what the career may be like.  

Build a writing portfolio

Whether you’re applying for college or applying for jobs, it always helps to have a portfolio of writing samples that you can share. 

It doesn’t matter what field you’re interested in. Colleges, universities, and employers want people who are good, compelling communicators. Because so much communication today is done via email and in other various written forms, it helps to prove that you know how to effectively translate your thoughts and ideas, and other people’s thoughts and ideas, into grammatically correct, inviting sentences. 

Meet new people

Joining your high school paper can help you meet like-minded individuals who share your passions and interests. Naturally, the friends you make at your high school newspaper can evolve into rewarding lifelong relationships that may benefit your career.

Additionally, as a journalist, you’ll find yourself talking with a wide range of people, from teachers you never otherwise would have met to local business owners. All of the connections you make will help you down the road when you’re looking for jobs. 

Expand your knowledge

As a journalist, particularly if you don’t have a specific coverage area, you’re introduced to so many different things and people. You spend the majority of your time researching ideas, concepts, and events and talking with the various people involved with them. You’ll increase your knowledge base so much. And that’s extremely valuable when it comes to doing well in your classes, applying for college, or simply being a good, informed citizen.

Conclusion

For good reason, the school newspaper is the quintessential high school club. As a member of the school newspaper, you’ll develop valuable skills, expand your knowledge and professional network, and set yourself up for success throughout and after college.