Editor’s Note

When most young children play pretend, they imagine themselves as warriors, or royalty, or members of a family. When I was younger, I liked to pretend to be a journalist. I was not a reliable source by any means; all my stories were made up to be presented on the spot. I had no concept of ethical journalistic practice – but I was enamored with the world of journalism.

I was homeschooled for most of my life, and I often chose to publish at-home newspapers as part of my schoolwork. But when I was thirteen, it became clear that I had to move on to public school. I was ready to take any chance to avoid high school, so after a year of deliberation, I enrolled at PVCC at the beginning of 2019.

In the spring semester of 2020, English was low on my list of priorities. The class that fit best with my schedule was English 121 – Introduction to Journalism. I showed up to my first day of class not knowing what to expect, feeling a little like a comic book character’s secret identity, and I walked out with a new fire ignited under my dormant interest in journalism from my early childhood. It was one of the best classes I’d ever taken, and it made me feel much more engaged in life as a college student.

Even those who don’t want to pursue journalism can get valuable information and skills for their everyday lives from taking a journalism class or joining The Forum club. Understanding how journalism and the media works and being equipped with the tools to read news analytically is important now more than ever, and I recommend getting involved with The Forum to any student interested in learning.