Tuesday, May. 04, 2010
A journalistic duel
John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher
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Sure, two writers sparring doesn’t quite rise to the level of a good swordfight or boxing match. I get that. Unless a pen ends up in someone’s arm, writers battling it out wouldn’t be a pay-per-view event.
Still, judging two pieces of work by two high school writers fighting for scholarship money was still exciting for me last week.
And watching these young journalists duke it out reminded me a lot of my high school days at the newspaper some 20 years ago at William Chrisman.
As a side note, the proud William Chrisman Envoy, one of the most decorated high school papers in Missouri, was thrust into the sunset at the beginning of this school year. But I’ve already had my rant on that topic.
I’ve told the story of how I got into journalism before, and watching Alex and Gina and the rest of the journalism students at Oak Park High School inspired me to remember it again.
Back then, I had to battle it out with a fellow female journalist, too.
In order to get your story published in the high school paper back then, two writers had to battle it out – with pen and paper – to author the best and most complete article.
The winner was published. The loser was, well, me.
I didn’t bow out gracefully, however. Losing to the person whom had already been selected as the editor-in-chief of the high school paper for the next school year was something I didn’t take well.
Convinced I had some writing talent – hey, I was young and probably a little arrogant – I went to the journalism teacher, Mr. Mike Brown, and asked for his forgiveness. See, I hadn’t signed up to even be on the newspaper staff after a year of Journalism I.
But my defeat left me hungry for success and ready to prove I could do it.
I am gratified I took that loss as hard as I did.
An old friend, former co-worker and former Lee’s Summit Journalite (is that what we call people who previously worked here?) Christina Paulsell (Geabhart) asked me up to speak to her journalism classes at Oak Park last week.
After two-and-a-half years in Iowa working with a very small school district and their newspaper staff, I was thrilled to be able to get in front of a class again and assure our future journalists that they, indeed, have a future in this business.
The writing contest in this case pitted a young man and woman – Alex and Gina – against one another for a $500 Dow Jones Newspaper Fund scholarship.
Both writers were impressive, insightful and revealed a passion for journalism that comes from an impressive advisor (Christina) and a belief in this business.
Only one could win and that was Alex. To him, I say congratulations and knock ‘em dead at Mizzou next year.
Gina, also headed to Columbia, will certainly learn from this experience and come out of it a better writer and maybe a little feistier.
I know I did.
John Beaudoin is publisher of the Blue Springs Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail jbeaudoin@bluespringsjournal.com.
