Writing for The Trumpet for the past three years was one of my favorite experiences in high school. I loved the classroom environment, crafting articles, conducting interviews, and researching topics for my articles. Here are ten pieces of advice I have for future staffers.
- Don’t be discouraged by a bad first interview
My first interview for the Trumpet went off to a very poor spot. While I had messaged the teacher I was interviewing on schoology when I would be meeting them several periods in advance, the teacher was still caught off guard when I was in their room. They were spooked, and my nerves rapidly increased. However, I was still able to conduct the interview.
- Don’t be afraid to exit your comfort zone
Interviewing can be nerve-wracking at times, especially out in the wild. For one of my first article assignments, I was tasked with covering the Trojan Tech Convention by myself. I am introverted by nature, and I felt uneasy about covering the convention by myself. However, my fear of failure was stronger than my shyness, and I ended up conducting the interviews.
- Communicate!
Arguably the most important part of being on staff is being able to keep your advisor or Editor-In-Chief up to date on where your progress stands on your article. You will often be able to change your article topic or get an extension if needed, but that must be communicated first so that you don’t end up in hot water.
- Meet your deadlines
Being part of the Trumpet is like being a part of a team: when one person lags behind, everyone lags behind. When you are not meeting your deadlines, the rest of the publication process is slowed down. Meeting your deadlines allows for the Trumpet to operate
- Be creative
Not every article that you have to write has to be based on news. Some articles you write will be more based on funny ideas. When I was a junior, I wrote a satire article about how the Trumpet had made the decision to become an international publication after I saw the Trumpet website’s viewer geographic breakdown. It was an absurd article, but to this day, it’s my favorite article I’ve ever written.
- Cover a variety of topics
When I first started on staff, I thought that I would primarily cover sports, as I intended to be a sports journalist when I grew up. However, I soon found myself covering almost everything but sports, ranging from global politics to Parkland’s orchestra.
- Ask follow up questions
When interviewing a source, you should always have questions prepared in advance. However, if your interviewee says something that you find interesting, ask questions that will delve further into that topic. In the long run, it will make your article more indepth and intriguing to readers.
- Don’t sweat it
If you are having writer’s block when writing an article, stay calm. I often struggle to write a lead when I am starting an article, and tend to work out of order until I know what I want to write for the lead. Even if it takes time, you’ll eventually find the words you feel conveys your article’s theme most succinctly.
- Seek help when needed
When you are writing an article, there are usually hiccups that occur along the way, whether it’s a source not responding to your interview requests or struggling to come up with a creative headline. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help! Everyone else has had similar struggles in the past, and will have advice to help you get past your dilemma.
- Have fun!
This is the most important thing you need to know. While there are responsibilities that come along with being a staff writer, this is still a passion that you are partaking in, and you should treat it as such!
