writer of the year
News is so boring.
Which budding journalist hasn’t groaned this? Enticed by the glamor of Arts and Entertainment coverage and the human connection in Features stories, I rejected News as the depressing, relentless and boring subset of journalism, both to read and to write. Living in the liberal stronghold of Cupertino, California — in the center of the Silicon Valley — led me to believe my community was insulated from and unaffected by changes happening on a national level, and, furthermore, that there was nothing meaningful I could say about these events that wouldn’t be a restatement of bigger, better publications.
But sitting down with real people — immigrants whose lives are changed because of the legislation passed in far-away Washington D.C., the teachers who are negotiating with the union for better funding or the students freaking out over an ant infestation in their classroom — taught me that I have the unique privilege and ability, as a high school journalist, to connect with my local community in a way no New York Times reporter can. More importantly, I discovered that with the right pitch, news is anything but boring.
By the time I began my journey as News Editor for El Estoque, I had realized that there are so many stories that are missing from the narrative. Through my writing — through the “boring” news — I could shine a light on the voices that were overpowered. I could hold the microphone up to the Indigenous tribal leader as she shared her journey to gain awareness for her community. I could publish an in-depth story featuring the words of a trans mother as she and her nonbinary preteen navigated the controversial world of gender-affirming care. And I could do it all with care and respect, which I strived to demonstrate through thoughtful interviewing and carefully researched reporting.
I learned that news is more than the “Who, What, Where, When and How” we’re taught in introductory journalism lessons. It’s an obligation to amplify the kind, knowledgeable, passionate and beautifully unique humans of our little world. News is the excitement in a Yale professor’s eyes as he discusses the subject he’s spent his career studying. News is the email a stranger sends thanking me for reporting on pro-Palestinian protests, a topic he’s felt dismissed by his friends for being passionate about.
As I reflect on my tenure as News Editor, I realize that I ultimately learned so much more than just how to write a compelling News story. Through my research, planning and interviews, I learned how to build connections with my sources and my audience. I learned how to give my interviewees the space and time to comfortably share the beliefs integral to their identities and the stories that make them who they are. While I appreciate the awards I’ve received for my writing, the moment that truly felt the most rewarding was when a source sent me an email thanking me for our interview. At the very end, she wrote, "Thank you for listening to me tonight. I felt heard and seen. You have a gift."
Uptick in Native American representation in election campaigns paves inclusive path forward
I was inspired to pitch this story after reading an NPR article that included a database of every Indigenous person running for election to public office, and I realized that I had never heard of any of them, and wanted to know what their stories were. Despite having a list of people to contact available at our fingertips, sourcing proved to be very difficult. Eventually, we interviewed the Chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, Charlene Nijmeh, and local teacher Shawnee Rivera — both of whom are Indigenous and politically active.
Telling their stories was an incredibly valuable experience. Diverse leadership is important for all of us, but especially for Indigenous people, who have historically had little influence over their direct governance. Through my authorship of this article, I learned about the history of Native leadership, and federal attempts (or lack thereof) to help Indigenous communities.
I also added a land acknowledgement at the beginning. This is something El Estoque has never done, but my sources described having a deep connection to their land: for Ms. Nijmeh, the Ohlone land, which our school is on; and for Ms. Rivera, the New Mexican land belonging to the Navajo tribe.
I am not Native American, which made it an inspiring challenge to do research, learn from and connect with my sources. The pride and fulfillment I felt elevating the voices of Indigenous community members makes this story one of my greatest accomplishments as a writer.
Gender-affirming care is restricted in America – El Estoque
When I read about debates over the legalization of puberty-pausing medications in The Atlantic in 2024, I was both shocked and intrigued by the nuance to the argument and ferocity with which its defenders and detractors argued. Conversations around the LGBTQ+ community, especially when they involve children, are always a sensitive topic in the U.S., but what set this issue apart was that it was happening internationally, and it affected several of my classmates and friends. While medical experts, LGBTQ+ advocates and those morally opposed to puberty blockers fought in the courts over whether they should be legalized, the teens who rely on the medications faced invalidation while battling the mental health issues that puberty blockers aim to treat.
Through my writing, I wanted to do thorough research and highlight the perspectives of the people involved. I found varied opinions on puberty blockers, from science professionals, who warned against the physical risks of the medications but underscored their positive impacts on teens’ mental health, to the mother of a preteen who reports feeling significantly happier and more comfortable in their body since starting the medication.
Deportation and defunding threats silence student activists’ voices – El Estoque
Hearing the news of student journalists and activists facing punishments for expressing their freedom of speech was chilling. Although I knew that many instances of this were happening on the East Coast, I was surprised to find out that a student and teacher at MVHS have participated in encampments and had concerns about being illegally detained, much like the college students on the other side of the country. I saw an opportunity to bring attention to community members involved in protesting, bringing a local lens to a national-level issue. My co-writer and I decided to focus on getting a wide range of perspectives: a Columbia University student journalist, a legal professional and two local community members who have immersed themselves in pro-Palestinian activism.
After the story was published, a student at my school emailed to thank me for covering the topic, saying he had “been finding it difficult to find ways to speak about this topic amongst [his] own peers,” and calling my coverage “heartening.” Messages like these show me the importance of digging deeper on national issues to educate and reaffirm our community.
Department of Education reverses Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students – El Estoque
During the beginning of Trump’s second term, many progressive or “DEI” policies were rolled back, including protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX. My community is directly protected from this, due to our district’s and county’s liberal and pro-LGBTQ+ policies. However, my interviews with LGBTQ+ students and staff and allies to the community revealed that despite the lack of direct threat, the development was disheartening and made them feel unsafe in America.
Interestingly, my sources echoed the sentiments of sources in my story about gender-affirming medical care. In both cases, protections to the LGBTQ+ community were attacked, leading to my interviewees discussing the potential mental health impacts in LGBTQ+ youth, who already have an elevated risk for depression and suicide.
Steered to extremes – El Estoque
This story was my first foray into ambitious news writing. I knew I wanted to write something complex and unique, and I achieved that by choosing the topic of algorithmic radicalization. Furthermore, I wanted to branch out and interview sources who were strongly suited to the topic, and I accomplished this by reaching out to the authors of scientific papers I read while doing research. Furthermore, I contacted marketing professionals with experience in algorithmic radicalization, and a student whose father had his political views changed due to his social media algorithms.