ODYSSEY Media Group staffers watch a presentation on the National Scholastic Press Association National High School Journalism Convention platform on Thursday. As part of convention, iliad Literary-Art Magazine Co-Editor-in-Chief Natalie Ripps attended a critique session for the 2020 illiad issue in which an NSPA critique leader offered feedback on the 2019 volume of the iliad. “We’re going to take the advice that (our critiquer) gave us and we’re going to keep that in mind when we’re designing this year,” Ripps said. “I think (the critique was) a really valuable thing because not everybody has the privilege to sit down with someone who obviously has experience and can walk us through how to improve our magazine.” Photo by Ireland McCage
Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group staff are currently attending the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Spring National High School Journalism Convention, which opened virtually on March 15, to learn from professional journalists around the country across multiple on-demand sessions and through tailored workshops.
Journalism I student Cadence Schapker, a freshman, is confident that her feature writing workshop in particular will improve her skills as a writer.
“There are a lot of different aspects of journalism that we haven’t talked about yet (in class), so these outside-of-school workshops are really going to help with feeling more prepared,” Schapker said.
In addition to workshops, members of the staff took part in critique sessions with award-winning journalism advisers from across the country. During these sessions, various elements of student-produced content were evaluated and students were given areas for improvement.
“(Our critique leaders) gave lots of good advice (to) make sure that some of our stories are more timeless (and that we are) getting people onto our website from our social media, and back and forth,” OMG Digital Managing Editor Ireland McCage, a junior, said. “We’re really trying to push ourselves right now and make sure that we’re producing the highest quality of work that we can.”
“We’re really trying to push ourselves right now and make sure that we’re producing the highest quality of work that we can.”
— Ireland McCage,
ODYSSEY Media Group Digital Managing Editor
Iliad Literary-Art Magazine Co-Editor-in-Chief Natalie Ripps, a senior, attended an NSPA critique session in which her and iliad Literary Art Magazine Co-Editor-in-Chief Lucy Hines, a senior, received feedback on last year’s magazine. Ripps looks forward to putting this advice to use when designing the 2021 issue.
“Last week (Hines and I) sat down over Zoom with a (critique leader) and she walked us through our magazine from front to back and gave us critiques about it. She really broke down from the outside what she saw the literary magazine as, what we could improve on (and) things that we did well last year,” Ripps said.
The two critique sessions she attended has helped McCage identify aspects of the website that need more content, such as broadcast.
“I think pushing people outside of their comfort zone would be really good for our broadcast program. We don’t really have a section for that on the website anymore, but if we get a lot of broadcast we can bring that back,” McCage said. “I think just pushing people to cover different stuff and fill in the gaps in our coverage (is most important right now).”
Beyond learning opportunities, staff members entered individual contents and the publication as a whole, including both the newsmagazine and website, competed in various Best of Show competitions. Volume 18, Issue 1 of the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine placed 3rd in the NSPA Best of Show competition. In addition, staffers won a range of Best of Show awards from Editorial Leadership to individual recognition for stories.
“(These awards) mean a lot. Especially after the year we’ve had, it’s a nice reminder that the sacrifices we’ve put in were recognized,” OMG Editor-in-Chief Naomi Hendershot, a senior who was recognized by NSPA for Editorial Leadership, said. “I’m proud of our staff and I hope this builds momentum for the rest of this year into next year.”
OMG Variety Editor Emma Scott was recognized for her podcast “Sopa, Mafalda and Me” and received fourth place in the Podcast category.
“I was very proud to see that something I worked on and that has been a part of my life (was winning awards),” Scott said. “It was amazing to see just how special ODYSSEY is, and get that feeling of being a part of something that really is nationally recognized.”
With the last waves of NHSJC workshops kicking off this month and the awards from the conference having been announced, OMG adviser David Ragsdale is proud of how the students have engaged in their work despite overwhelming odds.
“In truth, I think it’ll take years for kids, schools and journalism programs to rebound from the pandemic and for us (locally), the stoppage of face-to-face school for a calendar year,” Ragsdale said. “To accomplish what they have during the last 13 months is a huge testament to the resilience of our kids and their drive to serve the CCHS community.”
“To accomplish what they have during the last 13 months is a huge testament to the resilience of our kids and their drive to serve the CCHS community.”
— David Ragsdale,
ODYSSEY Media Group Adviser
As he looks ahead to the end of this school year and to rebuilding the staff, Ragsdale’s expectations for the program going forward are even greater.
“Presumably, we’ll be back face-to-face next year and there’s so much more work to do to improve our coverage and storytelling, so I’m excited about the opportunities,” Ragsdale said. “The kids have learned to become even more adept at digital journalism than (they were) even a few months ago, so once we are back in the room full-time, we’ll work to build staff morale and interpersonal connections, which should yield even better content for our community.”
Odyssey Newsmagazine Staff was named a finalist for Staff Recognition: Newsmagazine; Third Place
Naomi Hendershot was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Editorial Leadership; Second Place
Ireland McCage was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Editorial Leadership; Fifth Place
Audrey Enghauser was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Editorial Leadership; Seventh Place
Micah Shannon was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Blog; Fourth Place
Audrey Enghauser was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Blog; Sixth Place
Tomás Dougan was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Blog; Seventh Place
Micah Shannon was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Podcast; Second Place
Emma Scott was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Podcast; Fourth Place
Owen Donnelly, Eliza Ingle and Lillian Sams were named finalists for Individual Recognition: COVID-19 Reporting; Fifth Place
Chloe Sears was named a finalist for Individual Recognition: Election Reporting; Fifth Place
The NSPA Honor Roll of Student Journalists honors students who have worked on an NSPA member publication for two or more years and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a four-point scale. Publication advisers or journalism instructors have nominated these students for the honor. NSPA also awards one or more Honor Roll Scholarships annually to graduating seniors inducted into the Honor Roll. Scholarship winners will be announced in May.
Maya Cornish, Odyssey Media Group, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Owen Donnelly, Odyssey Media Group, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Audrey Enghauser, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Naomi Hendershot, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Ireland McCage, Odyssey Media Group, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Luna Reichert, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Natalie Ripps, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Natalie Schliekelman, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Emma Scott, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Carolina Turner, Odyssey Newsmagazine, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
