With four out of five Paragon staffers graduating this year, and publications adviser Ms. Sarah-Anne Lanman resigning after this year, concern about what the future of publications will look like here is a concern for some students.
“I am concerned about the future of publications in our school,” Armani Bearden, senior, said. “I do think it will be a big change. Without someone, the students, bringing attention to our publications, it feels like a sinking ship. I hope the underclassmen can influence others and continue the drive in creating something that lasts to some extent.”
Although she is leaving, Ms. Lanman encourages her students to push toward continuing the ongoing publications program here at our school.
“My big thing is that a pub kid doesn’t do this just for me,” Ms. Lanman said. “I want them to do it for the publication. Crier and Paragon exist outside of me or of any adviser—they exist in the hands of the students who work on them each year. Any media—Crier and Paragon included—are a reflection of a moment in time.”
However, the future of printed publications, as a whole, seems to be another concern. Many surrounding schools, such as Crown Point’s publication, Crowntown, have moved from a school newspaper publication to magazines and more broadcast and website-based media.
“Crowntown does a magazine because it is more visually appealing and newspapers are becoming obsolete,” Mrs. Jennifer Bianchi, Crowntown publications adviser, said. “Most kids these days have never picked up a newspaper. The future of print publications, unfortunately, seems that it will be online in, maybe not 10, but 20 years for sure.”
Evidently, Crier has not moved away from the traditional print newspaper since they started publications in 1966, the year Munster High School was established. However, Ms. Nancy Hastings, former publications adviser, has observed many advancements of publications through her time here.
“It’s really interesting because when I first started here, there were no computers and we would have to manually paste our stories together like a puzzle,” Ms. Hastings said. “Then computers came into the picture for publications in the mid 1980s, and it was remarkable the more control we all had in designing and putting together everything.”
“I think we should stay printing, Being one of the only high school newspapers is something special”
- Josephine Zangrilli, sophomore
Now, Crier builds their pages using Adobe InDesign, then sends the files to Blue Island Newspaper Printing in St. Harvey, Illinois. The staff also uploads the content in each issue onto mhsnews.net. Bob Ogle, Director of Computer Services at Blue Island Newspaper Printing, has observed the effects of the decreased interest in print publications through their company.
“Most of these people, these journalists, editors, publishers, they have an extreme love for print journalism,” Bob said. “They tend to hang on longer than it’s profitable for themselves. It’s an unfortunate fact, but newspapers are dwindling. Although, the one thing about newspapers, in my mind, is that they tend to be solid journalism where stories are fully vetted. The author’s seek out the truth and make sure their facts are accurate. Whereas, I’m not too sure that’s true about a lot of web journalism we are moving toward.”
