Sahuarita High School Defined

Published earlier this month, it's the first student newspaper at the school in several years, said teacher and newspaper adviser Derek Marshall. Before that students had a few false starts, producing publications that didn't last more than a few issues.

It took seven students to pull together the first issue, which features a welcome from the principal; the introduction of new teachers; columns on movies, music and student council happenings; a rundown of football scores; and an article about the opening of the computer lab.

"There's a lot of creative freedom here," said staffer Brian Mansker. "You get to voice opinions I didn't think you could."

The newspaper has two editors — one for photography and the other for editorial content. The rest of the students multi-task, reporting on issues, taking photos, generating story ideas and designing the publication.

Defined is published monthly during the school year. The first two issues will focus heavily on new staff members. After that, students will be able to delve into other topics of interest to their peers at Sahuarita High.

"I really like writing. I'm interested in photography and arts. Everything I like is combined into one class," said Alexa Sherman.

Once the teacher profiles are completed, Sherman said, "I'd like to do something that intrigues the school. Something they'd actually read."

"We have a lot of talented students here," said editor Kathryn Whitley. "I want to get all the school spirit stuff out of the way and then go more in-depth."

Even though the students didn't expose any scandals in their first issue, the paper did have an impact on readers. The most popular feature was the "Movie Time" review column by freelancer Bob Hamer.

"I've heard positive things about our movie reviewer," Whitley said. "If that's all they want to read, but it makes them pick up the paper, that's OK."

With $5,000 in funding from the school — enough to publish once a month for nine months — the journalism students have plenty of time to build readership.

"With the staff, I want to give them the confidence to put their ideas out there to an audience. Even if they don't go into newspapers, they'll find success elsewhere," newspaper adviser Marshall said.

As for the readers, he said, "I want to entertain them and give them a reason to pick up the paper and read. Any mass expression I can put out there is good. I think you lure them in with contemporary design and layouts — anything non-traditional — and good writing."

Even the name of the newspaper — Defined — is non-traditional.

"We wanted something abstract that wasn't overly school-spirited," Marshall said. "We want to define what's going on around us, and what's going on the page is defined."

Photo editor Gavin Maynard thinks pictures will help define the newspaper.

"I like taking pictures of people, moments in life," he said. "I want to accomplish a memory every year — something happens you want to remember. If we can create that, a distinct memory of something we accomplish (with the newspaper), that would be satisfying."

"I hope people like it," said staffer Hector Encinas. "We work hard on every issue. I want it to be something like: 'Hey, we can relate to this.' "

The next issue will be published Oct. 10. Defined is distributed on campus and available in the school's front office.

"I think we'll begin to anticipate the next issue," said principal Larry McKee, who approved funding for the paper. "The first one was the element of surprise. It even surprised me. I wasn't sure when we were going to get it.

"I think that's a heartbeat for the kids to have their own paper," he said. "It brings a sense of pride to the campus."

McKee proved that recently when he took a stack of newspapers to the district superintendent's office.

"I'm really, really pleased for our school," McKee said. "I was handing it out like a proud papa."