The theme for Scholastic Journalism Week 2022 is “Amplifying Voices.” #MakingConnections is the topic that is starting the week off, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among student-journalists across various publications and schools.

As opening Zoom becomes less common and in-person connection resumes, the necessity to collaborate with others, in and outside of the newsroom, grows into a pivotal role Tessa Augsberger, Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard-Westlake Chronicle, said.

“I think that Harvard-Westlake can definitely be a bubble,” Augsberger said. “Reaching out to other schools, public and private, widens what we cover and diversifies our stories. Collaborating can help provide a greater perspective on issues we write about, too.”

The Chronicle has a part of their news section dedicated to the local Studio City community. Augsberger said the section helps ensure that reporters reach out to people that are outside of the Harvard-Westlake community.

“Beyond the terminology, working with people outside of your own school fundamentally changes a paper,” Augsberger said. “Extending outwards helps report on a variety of perspectives. It can open the reader’s eyes just as much as your own.”

Vaughan Anoa’i, editor-in-chief of The Oracle, said that a diverse selection of sources leads to more inclusive and journalistically-ethical coverage, as various communities and people are represented within a story.

“I think the act of collaboration, specifically within student journalism, is everything,” Anoa’i said. “Making connections outside of our own school and outside our own staff is what pushes us to cover more stories than we normally would. We never want to only feature one side of any story, considering there are always two sides to the same coin. Putting in the extra effort to contact people you wouldn’t normally contact is the driving factor to be as ethical and fair as you possibly can.”

Fostering relationships with people is just as important outside of the publication as it is inside of the publication, Alix Erlij, Opinion Editor of Marlborough’s Ultraviolet, said.

“Inside of the newsroom, listening to others is key,” Erlij said. “I feel like it is extremely important that each staff member feels like they have their own voice on the newspaper. We try to make sure that everyone is able to voice their opinion.”

Whether it is inside of the newsroom or not, collaboration is an important element in all facets of life, Augsberger said.

“Collaboration is a huge pillar of our existence,” Augsberger said. “In order for all publications, but also in order for all people to progress, it is imperative to incorporate and listen to differing perspectives.”