Canyon High School
Each year, the National Scholastic Press Association recognizes excellence in student media with scholastic journalism’s preeminent award, the Pacemaker. Pacemakers are awarded in each category of publication — online, newspaper, yearbook, magazine and broadcast.
Entries are judged by teams of professionals based on the following criteria: coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership, design, photography and graphics.
NSPA contacted Laura Smith, adviser of 2016 Online Pacemaker recipient The Eagle’s Tale for a Q&A. The Eagle’s Tale is the student-run online publication of Canyon High School in Canyon, Texas.
NSPA also heard from Allison Koontz and Avery Cummings, student co-editors-in-chief for The Eagle’s Tale.
NSPA: Tell us a little bit about the editors and staff of your Pacemaker-winning publication.
Laura Smith, adviser: Our staff of eleven includes two co-editors-in-chief and a video editor — all seniors. They are amazing people who effectively lead, inspire, correct, mentor and shepherd the rest of the staff. They are very devoted to one another, other staff members and the paper.
They have had big shoes to fill as the editors before them the past two years have been amazing. These students never missed a beat and have taken the paper to the next level. This staff is very close even though they come from a wide variety of interests and social groups outside of the newspaper staff. Their willingness to collaborate and learn from one another is key.
NSPA: What were the goals going into last year and how did you ensure those goals were met?
Allison Koontz, co-editor-in-chief: One of the top goals for the paper and staff was to create quality content for the students, school and community. This goal was met by dedication, hard work and and perseverance from each staff member. Everyday, the staff worked hard to finish whatever story was assigned to them. We wrote stories that were not only relevant, but that also appealed to those in our community. The Eagle’s Tale constantly wants to inform the people of Canyon, TX, and influence those elsewhere.
Avery Cummings, co-editor-in-chief: Our goals were to post one or more stories every day of the school week, as well as bond with the entire staff. We talked with our staff weekly and set deadlines in order to put up new content daily. We also had a party before school began to meet each staff member and learn about them outside of school.
NSPA: How did the staff ensure the quality of the publication?
LS: Our staff works every day to post quality content. They write and rewrite until they feel a story is ready to go up. They assist one another and collaborate constantly to make their work better. Monday morning planning meetings keep us on track to publish new content daily. Organizing the workflow helps us maintain the pace and look ahead to the next week.
NSPA: Is there any one issue, story, photo or package that stood out during the year?
LS: Two of our feature stories with broad community readership were about challenges within our school family. One teacher died after a prolonged battle with cancer, and that story has been read more than 6,000 times. The young daughter of one of our coaches is in the middle of her own battle with cancer. The story of family’s journey has been read more than 2,000 times. These families were grateful for the stories and expressed their appreciation to us.
The news story that stands out the most is the breaking news story about a lockdown resulting from a gun on campus. Misinformation was all over the community, but our principal and liaison officer gave our reporter the best and first information. Our story was the first with real and accurate facts.
NSPA: Tell us about a hardship or obstacle you felt your staff overcame.
LS: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in early August and missed several weeks in the fall in addition to many scattered days for treatment. Not only did this staff continue daily posts of quality content in my absence, but they did whatever needed to be done so that I would never have to worry about the newspaper. When I was here, I had to spend so much time catching up on yearbook that I relied on the able leadership of my editors to keep the paper running every day. They were my rocks and kept me going all year long.
AC: The toughest moment we faced this year as a staff was the time our adviser was away as a result of health issues. Despite her physical absence, she still guided us through the year to the best of her ability and continued to help us create a great product for the community.
NSPA: What qualities will you remember the most about this Pacemaker-winning staff?
LS: I will remember the way they stepped up when I needed them most. They never waivered and performed at a level one would only hope to see from adults. I will remember the respect, love and bond they shared and the way the community came to rely on The Eagle’s Tale as a valid and important source of news that reaches beyond the high school campus.
NSPA: What does the Pacemaker mean to you and your staff?
LS: I never dreamed we would actually win a Pacemaker. I’m honored and thrilled for my staff, especially my editors, who have worked tirelessly day after day. Their true goal has been to produce quality content every day. To be rewarded with the Pacemaker validates the importance of doing your best every day. Every day counts.
AC: The Pacemaker proved how far our staff has come this year. It reflects the quality content we have been producing and gives our staff the confidence to continue improving the publication.
AK: The Pacemaker means all of our dedication and hard work is paying off and is being recognized. It is an honor to be on this list with so many other talented schools. Even for the schools who were not on the list, I understand all the work every school puts in to their publication.