Just a few weeks ago, the North Hollywood High School Arcade journalism program received a $1,500 equipment grant from the California Press Foundation. The journalism teacher, Mr. Gough, says that he plans to use this grant to pay for a new camera. This upgrade will better the quality of the school’s news coverage and provide students with the tools they need to better capture and document these important events happening around campus.
Mr. Gough, who has been teaching journalism at NHHS for several years, is excited about the opportunities the grant has created for his student staff and class. The Arcade, the school’s official newspaper, has become an essential part of the school community, offering students hands-on experience in reporting, writing, and digital media production.
The staff working alongside Mr. Gough includes Janaki Gera, Sandy Pennson, Andrea Gonzalez, and Jennifer Cruz Hernandez, each of whom plays a vital role in producing the newspaper. Gera, the Editor-in-Chief, is looking forward to how the new camera will improve their visual storytelling. “I think it’s going to be very beneficial for us moving forward and developing the paper,” she said, “It was a very kind thing for them to do.”
Pennson, the Graphic Editor, also sees the camera upgrade as an important step forward. “I think it’s amazing since Journalism is very underfunded and understaffed so this funding will greatly increase efficiency,” Pennson said. Funding is a very important part of a class like Journalism. In order for the Arcade to take photos for their articles, they have to have cameras, however they cost money which the Arcade needs.
Gonzalez, the Sports Editor, is especially excited about how the new camera will improve their sports coverage. “It was really amazing how we were able to qualify for it,” she explained. “It’s nice to see the arcade growing and building relations with other journalism organizations.”
The $1,500 grant, awarded on November 1, 2024, comes at an exciting time for the Arcade staff. As the school year progresses, and training being almost over, they are already planning how to best utilize the new camera for upcoming editions of the paper. “It’s very exciting and a great thing,” Mr. Gough shared. “I am very excited to get a new camera and a new lens or two as well.”
The Arcade has long been a cornerstone of NHHS, giving students a platform to express their creativity, tackle important issues, and give light to the diverse voices of the school community. With this addition of a new camera, the team is excited to expand their multimedia capabilities, including video and more in-depth photo essays, and to continue growing their audience through social media and the paper.
As the team looks forward to the rest of the school year, they’re already brainstorming new ways to utilize their upgraded equipment. From capturing student life on campus to covering sports and major events, the new camera will be an invaluable tool for the staff. “I am very excited for this year and what we are going to do with the paper,” Gera says.
With the support of the $1,500 grant, the Arcade is set for an exciting year ahead, ready to continue bringing the best of NHHS to the paper.
