Featured: LEAVING A MARK: The 2023-24 ODYSSEY Media Group staff poses at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association spring convention in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 2. 2024-25 OMG Editor-in-Chief Wyatt Meyer has attended several local, regional, and national journalism convention with the ODYSSEY. “Conferences are one of the best way to develop a bond between staff members, even for those coming into the program. Personally, I’ve been thankful to make so many friends in the OMG over the years, and conferences are a huge part of that,” Meyer said. Photo by Aza Khan
LAYOUT AND PACKAGING BY MOLLY HARWELL
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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ello! My name is Wyatt Meyer, and I‘m a senior and the ODYSSEY Media Group Editor-in-Chief. This will be my fourth year in the OMG and my first year serving as Editor-in-Chief. To give you an idea of what the ODYSSEY Media Group is about, we are 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, website, and YouTube. 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. What does that mean for students? They will interview stakeholders in the CCHS and Athens communities, write a variety of stories ranging from breaking news to editorials, 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 and its adviser, Mr. David Ragsdale. Being a part of the OMG requires a solid foundation, which begins with Journalism One, the introductory class. J1 will challenge students and push them outside of their comfort zones through analyses, reflections, and a focus on high-quality in order to foster growth. During the fall, students will engage in lessons on professional communication, branding, and news and opinion writing. By the spring, students will immerse themselves in digital storytelling, reviews, podcasts and broadcast videos. By the end of the year, students will master ODYSSEY and AP BY WYATT MEYER Editor-in-Chief
Style, follow ethical journalism practices and learn how to navigate high school. Whereas the Production class has clearly defined roles, J1 acts as a sampling platter – you try a bit of everything in order to figure out what works for you. The class requires students to stay on top of their work, as we often rely on each other to get work done. To support this, like Production students, J1 students are expected to attend after-school sessions until 5:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, attend quarterly weekend workdays during the school year, and 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 J1, if students choose to continue with the program, they will apply to join the Production staff, where they will create content across all OMG platforms. Throughout the year, members of the J1and Production classes will be invited to journalism conferences to 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 leadership to sports highlights. Additionally, students can compete in on-site competitions as they bond with fellow staff members. Though it is undeniably hard work, J1 reinforces skills like professional communication, positive team building, and a strong work ethic. Personally, JI helped shape me into not just the award-winning student journalist I am, but gave me a foundation to be successful in high shool. I am very excited to meet all of the incoming Journalism I 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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odysseynewsmagazine.com
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