They walked in not knowing a lead from a bridge. They left knowing how to chase a story and why it matters. They thought it was just a writing class. But then James King started to teach.
Journalism 1-2 is the beginning Journalism class at Sunnyslope High School. Many freshmen take the course, but several upperclassmen are sprinkled throughout the class as well. Throughout the years, students learn countless different skills. Freshman Octavia Schlegel said, “I’ve started to grow throughout this class in so many ways. We learn a bit of grammar and different types of writing styles for newspapers and even online sites, and you learn how to excel in those paths.”
Journalism 1-2 is like a treasure hunt, and the stories you build and explore are the hidden gems. Just as a treasure hunt needs clues, curiosity, and resilience to find treasures, journalism challenges you to dig deep, ask questions, and piece together facts to create a story that sparkles with entertainment and insight. Both are about discovery, excitement, and finding something valuable that others will want to see. You learn tons of different vocabulary words, writing styles, and reading comprehension, but in a way that’s exciting and makes you want to come back every day to do more. Freshman Ava Meraz noted, “If you focus on your work and get it done quickly, then you have a lot of free time. And we mostly just write articles and do visuals, which are pretty easy if you know what you’re doing.”
The teacher, James King, skillfully teaches journalism, creating lessons that will engage students and help them understand the subject better. His use of real-world examples and focus on critical thinking make the subject feel relevant and show how important journalism is today. He teaches skills that will be relevant and help students later in life. Freshman Serenity Dale said, “I like this class a lot, and I think it’s one of the top classes for me because I get to learn a lot of things that I’ll probably use in the future since I’m a photographer.” This shows how you not only learn how to write articles, but you also get to get creative with making visuals and taking pictures.
Journalism 1-2 overall is an easy A, and a very engaging class to be in. Journalism is an elective, so make sure to go to your counselor and switch it to one of your electives for next year right now!