Thirty journalism, publications and yearbook students attended Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association’s J-Day at the University of Missouri.
The key note speaker was Channel 5 news director Art Holliday, and students met with other professional journalists in breakout sessions. One presenter was WGHS alumna Ariel Johnson, who is a news producer for Channel 2.
Students also received overall critiques and individual awards.
The overall critiques for Webster included an All Missouri (the highest) rating for its Voices of Webster podcast, and a superior rating for the Echo Yearbook and for the Echo’s news magazine. Excellent ratings were awarded the Echo News Roundup and the Echo Newspaper website. The WGEcho Instagram earned an honorable mention for overall social media coverage.
Individual awards included All Missouri ratings to senior Joe Harned for the News Feature “Creativity helps heal students,” juniors Shea Goggin and Sydney Arrandale for the Yearbook Traditional Academic Package “I Wonder Why Academics,” junior Sam Klein for the Radio/Podcast News Feature “Men’s soccer captain shares season’s insights,” juniors Kameran Bluette and Katelyn Turley for the Yearbook Traditional Sports Package “One Foot in Front of the Other,” Turley for the Academic Photo “Sophomore holds fire,” senior Izzy Poole for the Student Life photo “Sophomore wins wrestling match,” and senior Maren DeMargel and junior Hadley Hoskins for the News Feature “Students share experiences with eating disorders.”
Superior ratings were awarded to Poole for the Photo Illustration “Back to School,” senior Lydia Urice for the Online Breaking News “Concerning amount of lead found in water from 12 faucets at the high school” and the News Feature “Cancer survivor gives back to community,” Turley for the Portrait “Most likely to go to space,” Klein for the Radio/Podcast News Feature “Students discuss possible snow day,” and the Echo Yearbook staff for the Yearbook Mod “Netflix or Hulu.”
Excellent ratings went to junior Soledad Lee and Hoskins for the Entertainment Review “‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ divides viewers,” sophomore Ali Schulz for the Editorial/Op-Ed “Gun laws need to be stronger” and the Sports Photo “Seniors celebrate State Semi-final victory,” and Hoskins for the News Feature “Type 1 diabetes affects student lives.”
Honorable mentions were awarded to Hoskins for the Online Feature Package “‘Spotify Wrapped’ challenges students perceptions of one another,” Klein for the Radio/Podcast News Features “Aluma shares how WGHS has changed, remained the same” and “Students welcome back Winter Formal,” freshman Arianna Peper for the Sport Reaction Photo “Freshman Sa’Nye Cannon cheers on teammates,” Bluette and Turley for the Yearbook Non-Traditional Package “I Wonder What this Year will Bring,” junior Josephine Lewis for the Portrait “Portrait Divider,” senior Bella LeGrand for the Sport Photo “Sophomore Forward Gavin Rumack clears the puck,” DeMargel and Klein for the Radio/Podcast News Feature “Spanish exchange student shares experiences,” senior Luca Giordano for the Online Feature Package “Student encourages community engagement through lifesaver mints,” Poole for the Photo Illustration “Student Life,” and the Yearbook Staff for the Yearbook Mod “What are your notebook colors?”