High school students earn journalism awards

With all of the uncertainty in the newspaper industry, you would think a journalism contest for high school students would draw little enthusiasm.

Think again.

The next generation of journalists displayed their skills on Saturday at two Northwest suburban sectional sites, sponsored by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). At stake was a berth to Friday's final at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

"I love telling stories," said Kevin Griffin, a Barrington High School senior who earned first place in headline writing. "I love being able to move people by sharing these stories, and that will never go out of style."

The sectional at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights drew students from Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Glenbrook North, Glenbrook South, Grayslake Central, Grayslake North, Hersey, Prospect, Stevenson and Wheeling high schools.

Roosevelt University in Schaumburg drew students from Elk Grove, Fremd and Rolling Meadows, as well as Chicago high schools.

At both sites, students competed in such events as editorial writing, news writing, newspaper design, copy editing, review writing, sports writing, editorial cartooning, feature photography, info graphics, advertising, headline writing and feature writing, as well as yearbook copy writing, theme development and layout.

Sectional medalists reflected the strength in journalism at suburban schools. Prospect High School students earned the sectional championship at Hersey, while Fremd took first place at Roosevelt.

In earning their points, students divided up to cover all of the events, with most competing in two. They worked on deadline, in computer labs that doubled as a newsroom for the writing, editing and graphic design events, while they looked for feature photography subjects outdoors.

However, two of the events had a real world feel to them.

In the news writing event, reporters were given a news release about the new recommendation that high school students be screened for depression before hearing Hersey's school psychologist address the issue in a news conference.

Prospect senior Melanie Walsh took first place for her news story on the subject, which now will run in her school newspaper.

"It was such a serious subject, that I felt I had to do the story justice," said Walsh, who will compete Friday in the same event at the state final.

Those competing in feature writing faced a similar scenario when they received a news release describing the opening of the new Holocaust Museum in Skokie before hearing a presentation from one of its volunteer docents, Teri Argentar of Deerfield.

Jordan Weiner of Buffalo Grove took first place at Hersey, while Jessica Dillard of Lake Park High School came in first at Roosevelt. Both earned berths to state.

This is the fourth year the IHSA has mounted a state journalism competition, and it will be the third year Grayslake Central seniors Laurie Torres and Suzee Skwiot will advance, based on their medals earned in yearbook copy writing and info graphics.

"I ultimately want to go into investigative reporting," Torres says. "I just love writing, and the chance to give people a voice."