WHY A MAGAZINE?
Imagine that your high school journalism career has taken off like a
shooting star. As a sophomore you became a prize-winning reporter for
both news and sports. As a junior you were named editor of the paper,
the youngest person to reach that spot in school history. Then your
senior year arrives. You’ve already climbed the peaks. Now what?
If you’re Brad Bernthal at East High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, you
start something new. Brad thought a video yearbook might be a good
idea, but on further reflection he realized his love of writing was his
strongest motivation. So Brad decided to start a magazine.
“It would fill a void,” Brad said at the time. The school newspaper
was straightforward and objective, with little room for lengthy features
or offbeat stories. The school literary magazine was mostly poems and
short stories.
What Brad had in mind was something with a wide-open format—a
magazine that could cover any kind of topic students might find inter-
esting. What would set the magazine apart was its approach. “We write
everything from our own perspective,” he said. “It’s very creative.”
A magazine is usually a glossy-covered collection of articles, sto-
ries, pictures and artwork that may come out monthly, quarterly, once
a semester or even once a year. The magazine is actually no stranger
to the high school scene. In fact, in some schools the magazine pre-
dates the yearbook and newspaper. These magazines have strong ties
to traditional journalism, but they often showcase new ventures into
un charted water.
YEARBOOKS AND MAGAZINES^415
magazine
a collection of articles, stories,
pictures and artwork that is
published on a regular basisYour Beat
- Write a description of the average student at your
school using status details. Now add a sight-and-
sound setting that students would remember, and
work your “average student” into the scene. - Write the first paragraph for the opening copy for the
theme you chose earlier in the chapter. Look at the
first five words. Are they interesting, attention getting
words? Do they make you want to read more? - Rewrite the following sentences to make more effec-
tive yearbook copy. (You may add names and facts.)
a. Taking science classes proved to be a great way
to gain knowledge about many different areas of
nature.
b. Between attending classes, participating in orga-
nizations and holding down part-time jobs, stu-
dents still found time to enjoy the various events
that occurred this year.
c. The music groups kept the music department
alive with activity over the year.
d. Many individuals contributed a lot to the team
standings.
e. The 2007–2008 FBLA membership was larger
than ever.
f. Despite the 7–12 season record with nine of the
12 losses by one or two runs, the men’s base-
ball team had an impressive year.