Stories That Matter: Student-Led Publications Thrive

The heartbeat of journalism remains strong, resonating every day in high school classrooms across Fulton County Schools (FCS).

“Students want and need platforms different from social media to share their perspectives and ideas,” says Chattahoochee High School (CHS) teacher David White, who serves as the adviser for the school newspaper, The Speculator, along with its digital newsmagazine.

“The cultural pendulum is swinging back from the realm of quick-read snippets and tweets to thoughtful and in-depth storytelling,” White says.

Where does that start? The process is the same as what you will find in traditional newsrooms. Students brainstorm and present story ideas. They learn to adapt to the ever-changing news cycle and pull in their audience with stories that hit home.

“We are constantly adding content,” says Dr. Marsha Simon, English Language Arts (ELA) and journalism teacher at Langston Hughes High School (LHHS). Dr. Simon is the adviser for The Panther Press, the student-led newspaper at LHHS. Her students focus on coverage she says is, “current and relevant to our audience.”

It is a similar headline at Johns Creek High School (JCHS), home to two student-led online publications: The Chariot, its news magazine, and The Pulse, its literary magazine.

Christopher Shearer, principal of JCHS, says the work is “rooted in authentic voice.” Shearer says students do more than report on what is happening in their school community.

“They’re shaping it,” he says, “asking thoughtful questions and telling stories that matter.”

At Riverwood International Charter School, The Current keeps the school community in the know. The printed newsmagazine launched last fall under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Lauren Langley and Media and Educational Technology Instructor Dr. Anne Marie Carrier. It is a platform for student voices, and the launch was met with an enthusiastic response.

“Students are jumping in to get involved, to write, photograph, and publish their work,” says Dr. Carrier.

Kindra Smith, principal of Riverwood, says she is proud to see students “share perspectives and ideas that matter to our school community.”

The stories you will find in these publications range from introspective reflections to current events at school and across the globe.

From their initial story ideas to their final drafts, ELA teacher and adviser to The Chariot, Chloe Grimes, says students learn to meet deadlines. It is not just about grades.

“They learn that missing a deadline hurts the rest of the staff,” she says, adding, “They don’t want to let each other down.”

JCHS teacher Daniel Conlan serves as the adviser to The Pulse. He says understanding the value of collaboration will benefit students long after they graduate, even if journalism is not their career path.

“They weigh instincts against feedback,” Conlan says, “and they situate their passion within their role on the team.”

Darrell Stephens, principal of LHHS, sees it, too. He says student publications “build a sense of ownership and pride,” and empower students to “shape the narrative of their school community.”

Shaping the narrative is a collaborative process. Dr. Michael Todd, principal of CHS, points out that The Speculator staff works with graphic arts students to pair strong visuals with articles in the newspaper and newsmagazine. He calls the result “a powerful example of what happens when student journalists and student designers work together to bring ideas to life.”

Stephens says he sees LHHS students develop “essential skills” during their time on the newspaper staff, with “communication, collaboration, creativity, and ethical decision-making” serving a central role in the editorial process.

Conlan at JCHS agrees. He is inspired when he sees students “contribute to something beyond themselves.”

He calls it a lesson “in process being its own reward.”

Langston Hughes HS students working on The Panther Press