These past few months have been historic, both globally and locally, in our lives as student journalists. As the new editors-in-chief of the 2020-2021 volume, we have had to navigate the challenges of leadership transition while planning our next story cycle completely at home and online. Our hardworking staff has had to adapt their reporting skills to these circumstances too, overcoming many obstacles along the way.
Instead of gathering in the Palo Alto High School Media Arts Center for story idea discussions and editorial readings, our new leadership team used Zoom “breakout rooms” to brainstorm articles for our next issue. Instead of meeting with story partners and conducting interviews in-person, our writers worked through phone calls and video calls, often not receiving responses due to COVID-19 closures. Instead of visiting a source’s workplace to shoot photos, staffers created workarounds, like having the source take self-timer photos or asking a sibling to help out to ensure social distancing guidelines were met.
Since schools were shut down in March, Verde staff members have been vlogging their daily routines to showcase how teens have adapted under the shelter-in-place order. Along with the expansion of multimedia content, Verde has also increased its body of breaking news stories, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 in our Palo Alto community.
Verde remains committed to upholding the highest standard of journalistic ethics and bringing readers relevant, truthful and responsible journalism during this time of need.
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In these next few weeks, Verde Magazine will be publishing stories exclusively online in addition to a condensed print issue.
We acknowledge our immense privilege in being able to report on topics related to COVID-19 during this time, and our ability to access technology that allows us to continue delivering important news to the community.
Our goal as journalists has always been to “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.” While we acknowledge that there has not been much application of “afflicting the comfortable” recently, we also believe in the importance of empathizing with those who have been and are being afflicted, as well as telling their stories during this time of collective hardship. As we see our community’s generosity bloom from adversity, it brings us hope for the future and drives us to help those who are struggling.
Verde remains committed to upholding the highest standard of journalistic ethics and bringing readers relevant, truthful and responsible journalism during this time of need.
— Avery Hanna, Laura Malagrino, Antonia Mou (digital), Ishani Raha (digital), Myra Xu