Words have life. Words themselves have a mood, an emotion, a feeling and a thought process. Words evoke. Words can illuminate. Words can deceive. Words are powerful. God spoke, “Let there be light,” and the void bore the world. Millions were left breathless as words glided off plays written by Shakespeare. European nations thundered when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses on the wooden door of Castle Church in Germany. Founding Fathers constructed a democratic nation with words by framing the Constitution. Books were burned to ashes during the Cultural Revolution in an effort to stifle the public. Words have history, and a story.
Press is mélange of words. A press is a storyteller. A press has your ear and that gives it its power. The power of the press, however, is largely symbolic and persuasive, in that it influences the thoughts of readers, but not their immediate actions. But, we must not undermine the press. In contrast to physical, coercive force, the press exercises power over mental representations, controlling knowledge, thoughts, intentions, plans, beliefs and opinions. It is amazing what people can simply do with just a pen and a piece of paper.
A school newspaper is no different from any other publications. As The Headline begins to settle itself in the GLP, we question our role and purpose as a student newspaper. Where does our power lie? So far our published materials have been light and entertainment-based, but perhaps the Headline needs to be more than that. Perhaps not. We are yet to find our true identity. Do we want to act as a voice of an official school opinion or an organ of dissent? Can we both act as a public relations medium while reflecting voices of the student body? What is it that we hope to accomplish here? What is The Headline?
With outbursts of recent school events that have come to light, the Headline has been ruminating further on how we should exercise our words. It is my belief that the Headline should act as an expression for the student’s search for truth. We, however, must take heed not to cross the line between exercising freedom of the press and disrupting orderly educational purposes. After all, nobody wants to see negative news stories about their school printed in any newspaper, let alone in a student publication. But there is value and honor in reporting the veracity of school issues to the student body. I believe it is an obligation and responsibility we have as a school press.
In the end, however, The Headline is for you, and for the you only. It gives me great joy to see students sitting in groups, reading the paper, smiling and laughing. While I sometimes do want the Headline be the battleground of heated debate, watching people grin confirms my belief that the last thing the students need in their stressful life is another disputation. I remember how ecstatic I got every Sunday morning to read the comic strip in the newspaper with my bowl of Lucky Charms. Perhaps that’s what the Headline needs to be – something that all the students will be excited to see every Friday. I cross my fingers and hope that we’re already there.
The paper serves at the pleasure of its readers. What would you like us to be? Please talk to us, share us your thoughts, and help us steer the Headline together – your words are important. It daunts me to see the empty Gmail inbox glare back at me every time I log on to our glpheadline account. In a small community as such, your input means a lot to us.
Thank you for reading the Headline.
