Featured: LEAVING A MARK: (From left to right) Rising seniors Managing Editor Maya Clement and Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell pose with 2022-2023 ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Visuals Coordinator Lucas Donnelly at Clarke Central High School to show off the National High School Journalism Convention in St. Louis, Missouri in Nov. Seventh Place Best of Show award for Volume 20, Issue 1 of the newsmagazine. “Being recognized for the Best of Show award reminded me of the impact our work has, not just on the CCHS community, but in Athens and nationally, as well,” Harwell said. “It also reminded me of why I put so much effort into ODYSSEY and the true reach that our program has, which feels incredible.” Photo by Aza Khan
LAYOUT AND PACKAGING BY MOLLY HARWELL
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
H
ello! My name is Molly Harwell, a senior and the returning Editor-in-Chief for the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine. This will be my fourth year in the ODYSSEY Media Group and my second year serving as Editorin-Chief. Being a part of ODYSSEY has truly changed my high school experience for the better and molded me into the person I am today. I look forward to furthering the legacy of this incredible program by working with Journalism One and Production students to produce quality content for the Athens community. The ODYSSEY Media Group is a student-run news organization that operates as a convergence model, where student journalists produce a range of content that is published via our newsmagazine, social media, YouTube and on our website. The purpose of the program is to inform, entertain, and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community. The ODYSSEY provides students the opportunity to become journalists through rigorous hands-on training. Students will interview stakeholders in the CCHS and Athens community, write a variety of story genres from breaking news to editorials, learn how to create multimedia and quality designs, and explore other areas of journalism such as broadcast, podcast, and photography. Throughout the learning process, students will learn how to work within a team and grow personally and professionally with the support of the Production staff. Being a part of the OMG requires a solid foundation, which begins with Journalism One. J1 will challenge student journalists and push them outside of their comfort zones in order to foster growth. During the fall, they will engage in lessons on professional communication, marketing and branding, news and opinion writing. By the spring, students will immerse themselves in digital
BY MOLLY HARWELL Editor-in-Chief
storytelling, reviews, podcasts and broadcasts. By the end of the year, students will learn to master ODYSSEY and AP Style, as well as how to market to target audiences, how to create quality content of all varieties, how to follow ethical journalism practices, and more. The class requires students to stay on top of their work, as we often rely on each other to get work done. This hard work does pay off however, and will leave students with many important lessons and skills even after high school.To support their work, like Production students, J1 students are expected to attend after-school sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and will have to create time outside of class to complete assignments. J1is not only facilitated by Mr. Ragsdale, but also by veteran members of the ODYSSEY program who will help provide guidance and mentorship. After Journalism One, if they choose to continue in the program, students will apply to join the Production staff and create content for the newsmagazine and website within their staff position. Throughout the year, members of the Journalism One and Production classes will be invited to journalism conferences in order to gain a better understanding of journalism and learn from professionals in the field, as well as form connections with other student journalists. Students will attend sessions on a plethora of topics, ranging from AP Style to broadcast journalism to hosting sports media days. Additionally, we’ll have students presenting sessions, as well as competing in on-site competitions as they bond with fellow staff members. I am very excited to meet all of the incoming Journalism One students this summer and to begin working with this year’s Production staff. We can’t wait to see how you will create your own individual path within the program, and we are looking forward to a great year!
Being a part of the OMG requires a solid foundation, which begins with Journalism One.
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