Writing has always come natural to me. Whether it was a project, story or essay for school, I put my all into my work. Sophomore year I learned how to write in AP style and have not stopped since.
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I started out as a reporter and photographer. As I became an editor, I quickly started picking up bigger projects and more breaking news.
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At a convention in the fall of 2023, I heard the "comforting the afflicted, and afflicting the comfortable" and it changed how I approached journalism. I found a passion in the hustle.
Focused, senior Maya Smith develops her project for a Gloria Shields workshop yearbook theme class. Photo by Lydia Folks
After Gaggle AI scans were implemented to our Google Drives in November, us editors started asking questions about how these scans worked, what they monitored or what types of things could be flagged. Every question we asked, the answer we received raised more questions.
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When the decision to buy Gaggle was made, it was done unanimously with very few questions asked. Four months after it was implemented, the term "Gaggle" is used by students as a term for being monitored or censored.
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What started as a simple story about art students photos being removed turned into a First Amendment issue for us as student journalists. Issues of anonymous sources and private notes being subject to scanning immediately worried us that our First Amendment rights were being violated.
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For more on what work I am doing with Gaggle and First Amendment rights, see my Law, Ethics and News Literacy section.
​The rush that comes with breaking news is one of my favorite things about reporting. Being able to help inform my community of issues that affect it is an unmatched feeling, and I am grateful that I have been able to report on such important topics at a young age, from school closures to weapons in school.
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Click on the photo or title to read some of my reporting.
Standing her ground, a Pinckney Elementary parent holds a sign outside of the USD 497 district office before a crucial board meeting. The meeting's purpose was making the decision of whether or not to close up to three elementary schools, which brought out a record number of parents and community members for public comment. Photo by Maya Smith
As a yearbook editor, many of the stories we run are feature stories. The more unique, less breaking news stories can be super fun to write.
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Click on the photo or title to read my feature writing.
Showing her support, sophomore Bea Johnson walks out with her classmates in support of transgender student rights. The walkout brought out more than 300 students with signs, chants and enthusiasm. Photo by Maya Smith
Editorial writing came very naturally to me from the beginning. I have always been told I am opinionated, and writing opinion pieces became a way for me to impact my community. I have never searched for an editorial, but I always choose to write things that I am truly passionate about.
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Click on the image or title to read some of my editorial pieces.
Holding a mic, senior Maya Smith interviews Melissa Johnson about the recent lockdown and administration's response. Photo courtesy of Room 308 Productions
Even though sports writing has never been my favorite category, I’ve taken on the challenge. I see it as more of a challenge since I write about sports I'm not as familiar with, and often collaborate with those around me to get the best story out there.
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Click on the photo or the title to read my sports writing.
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Stealing the ball back, sophomore Avery Bird plays in a game against Lawrence High's crosstown rival, Free State. Photo by Maya Smith