Journalism classes are responsible for making content for OHS Talon, the school news website you are currently reading. 

They plan articles, manage interviews, and capture photos in this class, writing news articles to keep the public informed. The journalism students act as real-world reporters by finding and interviewing their sources and using the information to write their articles. Article topics are selected by the students.

Ms. Miller teaches the Journalism classes at Osbourn. When asked why she became a journalism teacher, she said, “This is kind of a complicated story. I went to college as a journalism major originally because I loved writing. My plan was to move to New York and write for a magazine like Vogue. I never really planned to be a teacher at all, but my advisor asked me to do some tutoring for athletes at my school who needed help with writing. I guess I did an ok job because he started encouraging me to take some education classes. So I ended up majoring in Journalism, English, and Education. I went on to get my Master Journalism Educator status, which involved studying a lot about student press law, writing techniques, and journalistic trends. Only 200 people in the whole country have the MJE status, so I was excited about that. I did still end up writing; I have lots of articles in Brides and Weddings magazine and some other publications as well.”

Ms. Miller maintains the balance of her writing and her career, and her writing and reporting style has not changed since she started teaching others how to do it. “Professionally, I mostly write about style, fashion, beauty, and wedding planning. Those are fun, upbeat topics, so my style is appropriate for that vibe. I don’t think teaching has changed my writing style. I just have to teach tone to my students, especially when they are writing about serious topics,” she explained.

So, how do students feel about Journalism?  Maliyah Stewart said, “I really enjoy writing and sharing my opinion with others.” Other students, like Jaquelyn Figueroa, said “I chose journalism because I enjoy writing about things that I take an interest in, also because it would make me better at writing and forming essays.” So she also felt that journalism offered a unique way to express herself. On the other hand, Engel Diaz said, “I took journalism in middle school, and I liked it, so I took it again here.” Kayla Moore agreed by saying, ” I used to love writing when I was younger and just loved it, maybe not as much, but I still do! ” Even with their different backgrounds, these students have shared goals.

I also asked what the most rewarding part of seeing your name in the byline on top of a story is. Maliyah Stewart embraces the recognition with confidence, noting, “I really like to think about how people will read my article, see my name, and realize how stinkin’ cool I am!”  While some want the spotlight, others are realizing the reach of their work. Jaquelyn Figueroa says, ” I don’t necessarily tend to think about that a lot, but now that it’s been mentioned, it does feel like my writing can be seen more, so I think it’s great!” 

If someone wants to join Journalism, there are important things they should know. ” I would tell them that you NEED to meet the deadlines for the step-by-step in planning/writing the article, although it definitely makes it easier due to it being simplified and easy,” said Jaquelyn Figueroa. Engel Diaz says, “The teacher is very good, and it’s very easy to write articles once you get in the flow of it.” Maliyah Stewart agreed by saying, “There are some serious deadlines, but write your opinion or about something you care about, and you’ll be good!” 

In this class, you aren’t just a student; you are a real-world reporter, editor, and photographer for the OHS Talon news website. Even though you have to be responsible with interviews and photos, the class helps you find your own path and improve your writing. It turns regular schoolwork into a real platform where you can show off your style and share things you actually care about.

If you have questions about Journalism classes, stop by and talk to Ms. Miller in room 1030!