(From left to right) ODYSSEY Media Group Lead Copy Editor Cooper Jones, Business Manager Merren Hines and Diversity and Representation Editor Samaya Ellis pose in Nashville, TN, on Nov. 12, 2025. Hines reflected on her three years within the ODYSSEY Media Group and how being promoted to the Business Manager her sophomore year taught her lessons about being a journalist. “I realized that it wasn’t just good writing that you need to be a journalist. It’s communicating with people, making stakeholders comfortable, starting conversations, to really get the story you need,” Hines said. Photo by Peter Atchley
Business Manager Merren Hines speaks about her experience within the ODYSSEY Media Group, and how her journalistic journey has shaped her as a person.
Journalism, for me, has been something I never thought I could do, but eventually evolved into something that means a lot to me.
For me, at the beginning of my freshman year, I felt like I was still a butterfly learning how to fly. I had trouble writing journalistically, because I had never had experience with it before. It took a lot of time for me to really understand all of the rules and how to get a story.
It all starts with an interview. I had my first really in-depthin depth interview my first year for one of my magazine stories. This interview showed me that I am very good at holding conversations with people and getting the quotes I need. It allowed me to understand what a story needs and how to make it impact your audience.
Going into my sophomore year, I was promoted to being the Business Manager. The thought of me being an editor came as a surprise. I realized that it wasn’t just good writing that you need to be a journalist. It’s communicating with people, making stakeholders comfortable, starting conversations, to really get the story you need.
“It’s communicating with people, making stakeholders comfortable, starting conversations, to really get the story you need.”
— Merren Hines,
ODYSSEY Business Manager
Going into my sophomore year, I was promoted to being the Business Manager. The thought of me being an editor came as a surprise. I realized that it wasn’t just good writing that you need to be a journalist. It’s communicating with people, making stakeholders comfortable, starting conversations, to really get the story you need.
But for me, it’s more than just a story. My position as a journalist and as the Business Manager is to express our voices in the community. Through my freshman year on the news staff, by finding my voice through interviewing and communicating with others, to my sophomore year as the Business Manager, being able to highlight business in the community through advertisements.
Media Group Business Manager Merren Hines (right), a Clarke Central High School junior, interviews a student (left) at the National High School Journalism Convention on Nov. 15, 2025. Hines has been the Business Manager for two years and hopes to carry the skills she’s learned in the role into her future. ”The things that make up me as the Business Manager are getting those advertisements, calling and interacting with businesses in our community to work with us. Like interviewing, this is me creating a bond with people outside of the program to help them get their ‘why’ out there,” Hines said. Photo by Peter Atchley
Now, at during the end of my junior year and having two years of experience as the Business Manager, I have found my own “why.” I am learning new things from leadership, to how to write a story, and all the ways to communicate with my peers.
I have finally felt like I have not only learned how to fly, but now I know where I am going.
