Refocus and Reign

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The entire journalism program has had to adapt in many ways due to the pandemic. However, as the school finally approaches a return to normalcy, the program has regrounded itself and improved across the board. 

Mrs. Gretchen Gowen, the Rocket Times adviser, emphasized that this year was one for rebuilding. Because the staff wasn’t able to collaborate in the editors’ room during the pandemic, print editors needed the ability to work from home. Additionally, when the school was completely virtual during the spring of 2020, the staff relied upon the newspaper’s online counterpart, Liftoff News. “[That experience] showed me the value of online journalism, and we will continue to encourage it,” said Mrs. Gowen. “Our main focus is print journalism, but our online format might become just as important as we go forward.”

With Mrs. Deanna McGill serving her first year as the yearbook staff adviser, the staff shared the sentiment of refocusing with Rocket Times and Liftoff News. “This year, we wanted to have a focus on regrounding the student body in what makes Catholic High, Catholic High after losing sight of it during the pandemic,” said Cade Johnson, editor-in-chief. “It really felt like we were starting with a fresh state on every level.”

In April, students and advisers from the journalism program attended the Arkansas Scholastic Press Association Convention, also known as ASPA. During the convention, students took part in multiple sessions discussing various elements of journalism. “We had not been to ASPA in person since 2019, so no one on the current staff had ever been,” said Mrs. Gowen. “I thought the convention was very well-organized. I really appreciated the students’ cooperation. They represented the school and Catholic High journalism well.”

Competition is another key aspect of the convention. After preparing for on-site competitions and submitting entries for mail-in awards, the newspaper, yearbook, and broadcast staffs collectively won 55 awards at the state level. As an editor for both the yearbook and newspaper, Johnson felt increased excitement throughout the convention. “I was twice as nervous as anyone else because I wanted both staffs to win as many awards as possible,” said Johnson. “It was amazing because I could celebrate with either staff every time a respective staff member won an award. Being around a ton of other kids your age who have dedicated their high school careers to journalism was super cool, too. After not being able to attend an in-person ASPA all of high school, this year was an incredible experience.”

Charlie Henry

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