Day 1 – Quality work

 

Mosaic staff writers Shauli Bar-On and Avni Prasad work on their stories in the Spartan Daily newsroom. // Photo by Imran Najam

By Shauli Bar-On, Mosaic Staff Writer

Pre Day 1 — June 12th

Checked into wrong dorm in the female wing… whoops. Not a problem; I switched rooms right away and was happy to meet my roommate Mitchell. We clicked right away. Can’t wait to spend two weeks sharing a room with him!

Day 1 — June 13

Met my editor Claudia and began working on my story right away with Avni. We’re focussing on sexual consent being taught in high schools. We’re trying to answer the question “how do you teach about rape when sex is such a taboo subject?”

I made my first call for Mosaic today. I’ve been talking to district superintendents, California legislators and concerned students and parents. They are always very impressed and honored to be contacted from Mosaic and take us reporters seriously. Lot’s of quality work on the way!

 

Day 1 – A nice transition

Mosaic staff writer Aysha Rehman works on her story in the Spartan Daily newsroom.

By Aysha Rehman, Mosaic Staff

I’m going to be honest, when I first walked into that meeting room to have dinner with everyone, I was nervous. I was really nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m glad I decided to come. So far I’ve met a bright, eclectic group of people who I can relate to, and I can see that we’ve already started bonding.

Something we went over that really opened up my eyes was our discussion with David Early, a very wise journalist who recounted many a tales of his journalistic exploits. David took us all the way from the 70s to what journalism has morphed into in today’s perspective, and I’m surprised to know how much it changed. He showed us the importance of a journalist’s work, and gave me the idea that our work was a lot more impactful than I thought.

After that insightful presentation, going out for lunch with this large, fluid mass of teenagers was an interesting excursion to an otherwise work-filled day. I can honestly say that interacting with my peers was pretty fun, and I hope that I remember every minute I spend with them–including almost getting lost on our way to Subway, and then teasing the heck out of each other for an amalgam of reasons.

When we discussed stories, I thought it was interesting that the editors we were assigned to chose some of the stories that they did, but I’m glad I was directed to the most feasible story idea. I think that after discussing our stories, and coming up with a game plan, I feel really confident that I will be able to tackle the story I have in mind. It’s one about the presumably growing homelessness in San Jose, no easy topic to cover. Regardless, I feel like I have a strong team backing me, and a new group of friends that I hope will last for a long time.

Overall, the first day and half has been a nice transition into finally working on story ideas, and I can’t wait to spend more time with this group of wonderful young journalists. I feel like based on what my friends here have pitched, the end result will be great. I do look forward to the newspaper when it comes out, I hope my new friends feel the same.

Day 1 – Mosaic: what high school journalism isn’t

Mosaic staff writers get to work on their story ideas in the Spartan Daily newsroom. // Photo by Creo Noveno

By Kaitlyn Wang, Mosaic Staff

If you asked me three years ago, I would never have imagined myself spending two weeks away from home working in the Daily Spartan newsroom with a bunch of extremely intelligent and passionate reporters who just so happened to be my age, well. I’d probably laugh, but in a good way. But sophomore year rolled around and I realized that journalism was in fact a very viable career option for me, someone who loves writing and telling stories.

Mosaic is an opportunity that I know will open doors for me. Journalism for me has been restricted to a very small perimeter: be it Foothill, our community, or the Pleasanton bubble in general. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting– although certainly it wasn’t these incredibly nice swivel chairs, can I take one home with me?– but I have been pleasantly surprised at every turn.

Perhaps it was the really nice dorm rooms, or the delicious welcome dinner, or even the slightly awkward but in an endearing way name game icebreaker. But I have never made friends faster than I have in these first two days of Mosaic. I think it’s because these students know what it’s like to want to chase and pursue a story, to want to get to know humans for what they are and translate this humanity into words to spread to a wider audience.

And I relate to that. But more than that, Mosaic has already given me a taste of what high school journalism isn’t. By all means, I love what InFlight has given me and will give me, but I will admit that the environment is vastly different to what can be expected of reporters in the “real world.” Here, high schoolers are no longer teenagers that never understand, instead, we are reporters who have a real drive and a real purpose. The first day in the newsroom was spent working on staff bios, story ideas, and getting our assignments, but already I feel far more like a “real world” reporter than I have in my life.

That’s something I can get behind. That’s something I appreciate. And that’s something I will uphold for the duration of my time at Mosaic.