The Charger Times: A Case for Student Journalism

Four years ago, The Charger Times began as a middle school experiment that has blossomed into so much more – friendships across grade levels, a bright spot in students’ inboxes, and a lunch club disguised as a real learning opportunity. What sounds like a cool, fun thing to each new group of 5th graders becomes something to really stand tall for by the end of 8th grade. Whether students have spent one trimester on The Charger Times staff, or an entire year or more, they all leave with something to be proud of and to be able to say, “I did that.”

The Charger Times allows students to take charge of their days in ways similar to Athletics or Fine Arts. It gives students the opportunity to cultivate an interest in writing or photography in ways different than in the regular classroom. Essays, projects, and mastered pieces of music are always something to be proud of, but to nurture a story idea from its very conception to seeing it splashed across classmates’ Chromebooks instills pride in a different way.

Similarly, journalistic writing can be quite different from the type of writing taught in the traditional English classroom. In just a couple of days a week, students begin to master a new style of writing, as well as become more adept at understanding quotations, note taking, and speaking professionally with people they may be less familiar with.

Another benefit of the school newspaper is the sense of community it cultivates. This benefits not only members of the newspaper, but the broader student body as well. It can feel very special to see your photo, your words, or your accomplishments immortalized in the newspaper!

Finally, participating in the middle school newspaper prepares students for Upper School in a unique way. Students enter Mrs. Whitten’s journalism class with background knowledge in place. She has even featured some photos and writing from middle school students in the yearbook on multiple occasions!

Volume 4 of The Charger Times is currently in production and will hit the website soon. Please take a moment to check it out and share in the delight our middle school students experience with each new edition!