This summer, three student journalists joined the staff of The Kewanee Voice for a new summer internship program.
Kyra Galbraith, Floyd Jenkins and Jayden Magnussen participated in The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program last school year writing articles for their school that were published on the news website. The Voice’s Student Journalism Program, which began in August of 2023, is funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
The students started the five-week summer internship in June and were assigned various projects all centered around learning skills involved in news reporting, photography and journalism.
The interns shared some of their favorite, most challenging parts of journalism and what they learned in the summer program.
“My favorite part was when we went to the library to look at archived stories from The Star Courier,” said Galbraith. “It was really interesting to look at and figure out how to find them.”
Jenkins said his favorite part was his interview that he conducted at PNB. “It opened my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes of reporting,” he said.
Overall, the students had several take-aways as to what a career in journalism and reporting would look like.
“Journalism is a time consuming job, but worth it in the end for the sake of the community,” said Jenkins.
Galbraith said she learned that anything can be a story. “It just takes concentration and creativity to grab the attention of the readers.”
The students are entering their junior year at Wethersfield High School and have been reporters with the student journalism program since the beginning of their sophomore year.
In August, the student journalism program will begin again at both WHS and Kewanee High School. The program is open to students from grades 10th-12th. Students interested in becoming student journalists for the program next school year should reach out to their English teacher at the high school.
Moving forward, the summer internship, also funded by the memorial trust, could become an annual program, provided enough students are interested in participating.
“I think it’s a great way for students to explore the career, work on their skills they will use being reporters during the school year and earn some extra spending money,” said Susan DeVilder, managing editor for The Kewanee Voice and publisher of The Henry-Stark Voice.
