Eighth-graders interested in covering news visited Westford Academy Feb. 2 for a series of workshops on journalism.
The students attended classes presented by reporters on the staff of the WA Ghostwriter, the high school’s online publication.
“We focused on newspaper related topics to give the students a taste of the offerings in the journalism program here at WA,” stated Janet Fonden, an English teacher. Along with English teacher Jack Holbrook, Fonden is the student adviser for the Ghostwriter.
In May, the school newspaper won several awards, including an All-New England Award in Scholastic Editing and Publishing from the New England Scholastic Press Association. A hard copy of the publication is distributed twice a year for the school’s annual holiday bazaar and for the graduation ceremony in June.
Fonden and Holbrook planned four student-led workshops on the topics of writing, interviewing, sports writing and photography. The Ghostwriter staff members led simulated interviews with the middle schoolers and provided instruction on the other topics.
This was the first year that Fonden and Holbrook have held the workshops.
“We were happy with the event and are already planning for next year,” Fonden stated. “We hope to attract more students and maybe make it even more interactive.”
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