Senior Talia Lissauer interviews Mary Beth Tinker at the 2019 National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C. After hearing Tinker speak, Lissauer and former editor-in-chief Marta Hill were inspired to write an in-depth story about the importance of free speech and press in schools.
Reporting
When I signed up for my first story, I strategically picked a story that did not require any interviews. Now, interview-based stories are my absolute favorite — especially when it's with someone who is passionate about the topic.
Over time, I have interviewed some incredible people. At the 2019 National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C, I interviewed Mary Beth Tinker about the importance of free speech and student press in schools after hearing her speak. This year, I was one of 10 Minnesota student journalists who attended a student press conference with Governor Tim Walz where I asked him two questions about schools and the pandemic. Two months later, I spent 15 minutes interviewing epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and a member of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board. Interviewing not only allows me to write a better story, but it enables me to learn more about many topics and become a more well-rounded reporter.
Over time, I have interviewed some incredible people. At the 2019 National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C, I interviewed Mary Beth Tinker about the importance of free speech and student press in schools after hearing her speak. This year, I was one of 10 Minnesota student journalists who attended a student press conference with Governor Tim Walz where I asked him two questions about schools and the pandemic. Two months later, I spent 15 minutes interviewing epidemiologist Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and a member of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board. Interviewing not only allows me to write a better story, but it enables me to learn more about many topics and become a more well-rounded reporter.
Writing
Over the last two and a half years, I have written 94 news stories, 10 features stories, 35 sports stories, seven opinion stories and seven entertainment stories. At the beginning of my time on Echo, I was nervous to take on important stories because I was intimidated by the process of interviewing high-level primary sources. But, as I continued to write and interview, I gained confidence in my writing which translated to taking on even more important stories. My writing has improved significantly since my first story, but I am always looking for ways to improve — whether in my leads or another part of the story.
My school doesn't censor student reporting. Others shouldn't, either.
After attending an opinion writing boot camp by the Student Press Law Center, I was paired with a mentor to help me write and pitch a story regarding my experience with student press freedoms. I instantly knew I had to write about my experiences attending a school that is not subject to censorship or prior review. While writing this story and working with my mentor was a great on its own, seeing my words in the print issue of The StarTribune was so special. It’s a moment I will never forget. |
This letter was published in The StarTribune Feb. 26
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Businesses adjust to the pandemic
Covering local businesses was always something I loved to do and when the pandemic hit, I switched from writing about businesses opening to businesses fighting to stay open. I covered the effect the restrictions were having on businesses around the school, specifically through the lens of the student workers. I made sure to incorporate multiple types of businesses that were having different experiences with restrictions to paint a better picture of variety of ways businesses were affected. |
This story received a Best of SNO
Tragedy brings solidarity to Jewish community
After the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue Oct. 27, 2018, I wrote my first opinion column, which is still my most cherished story two years later. For the first time, I published a piece where I put my own feelings into words. The positive responses that I received from fellow staffers, family, friends and community members helped me realize just how much of an impact student journalists can have. |
This story received fourth place for Editorial Opinion at the Minnesota High School Press Association 2019 convention
This story received a Best of SNO
This story received a Best of SNO
George Floyd protest
As protests heated up across the nation — especially in my community — I knew I had to write about them, but not in the way most news outlets were covering the protests. We needed to talk about the impact it was having on students. I was a part of the coverage team for two protest stories and two more multimedia packages in just two weeks. In the two stories alone I was able to give voices eight students who were attending protests and active on social media against police brutality.
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"George Floyd memorial organized in St. Louis Park" received first place for Online Multimedia Story Package at the Minnesota High School Press Association 2020 convention
"'I can't breathe:' protesters unite against police violence" received second place for News Story at the Minnesota High School Press Association 2020 convention
Both stories recieved Best of SNO's
"'I can't breathe:' protesters unite against police violence" received second place for News Story at the Minnesota High School Press Association 2020 convention
Both stories recieved Best of SNO's
Danny Walsh organizes donation drive of federally-funded meals
While aimlessly scrolling through Instagram, I saw a student had organized for federally funded lunches to be donated upon a student's request. My immediate instinct was to cover it to help spread the word amongst students. Through stories like this, I am reminded how journalism can help to positively bridge the gap between community members. I love writing profiles highlighting students who are going out of their way to do good for the community.
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This story received a Best of SNO
Presidential candidates rallies
All three stories received Best of SNO's
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Last year, I covered three presidential rallies — two with official press passes. Each one brought its own challenges that helped to prepare me for future stories. At former President Donald Trump's rally, we were not able to get press passes so I had to organize everything for the story from my house, but still had the story ready to go that night. For Sen. Amy Klobuchar's rally, I went in expecting to cover a basic rally in my high school gym but ended up writing about the protesters who derailed the event. At Sen. Bernie Sanders’ rally, we were unable to get press passes ahead of time, but we went anyways and were able to obtain passes. I loved every second covering these rallies and can not wait to do it again.
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‘Endgame’ breaks records in a snap
I have always leaned towards interview based stories because I love telling other people's stories and sharing their opinions. When Avengers Endgame was first released, it felt like that was all anyone around me could talk about. I decided to harness my interviewing skills and write a features-style entertainment story about it. I included the perspective of a student who worked opening night and a student who went to see the movie. It was a different approach to covering the opening of a movie than Echo usually does but I really enjoyed writing this.
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Girls' cross country wins conference
In a non-COVID-19 year, every Echo staffer covers a club or a sport. I always covered sports, making sure to write and photograph as many different sports as I could. Cross country was the first sport I covered, and I learned so much during that season. One of my favorite stories from that year was covering the girls' team winning the conference. Two years later, I covered the girls' team winning the conference again. When I look between the two stories, I am astounded by how much I have improved in the last two years in everything — especially leads.
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COVID-19 coverage
Four COVID-19 stories received Best of SNO's
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From March 13 to May 22, I wrote 27 news stories about COVID-19 and helped with even more. We covered the governor’s press conferences, summarized school updates, answered students’ questions about the virus and so much more. Each story went up within a few hours of us learning the information. Covering a constantly changing pandemic is very different than the typical coverage of our community. I learned so about COVID-19 and gained crucial journalism experience while working on these stories |