When writing this story, I chose to leave out my source’s personal and traumatic account of a friend dying. I was torn about whether or not to include the story: it was a powerful anecdote, yet I knew that good journalism doesn’t rely on shock value. I instead focused on his experience with systemic issues around PTSD and veterans’ benefits. This piece reflects my commitment to reporting responsibly on mental health and PTSD, topics that I reported on carefully to avoid perpetuating existing stigma or sensationalistic journalism. By featuring Arroyo’s experience, I was able to highlight the failures of institutional systems, the resilience of veterans and the human cost of war.
I demonstrated news literacy by not only learning about various California zoning laws through writing my story “Rise of Vallco.” I also studied The Rise’s approved plans for Cupertino’s city while researching background information. While writing this story, I interviewed people from various backgrounds, from the city mayor to residents. I received vastly different perspectives and had to tie all those into one cohesive story that reflected factual information as well as the opinions of residents. It was difficult to discern what was fact or opinion while interviewing some of my sources, so I spent a long time researching California housing laws and thinking about whether it was best to include or exclude some sources.
I demonstrated news literacy by not only learning about various California zoning laws through writing my story “Rise of Vallco.” I also studied The Rise’s approved plans for Cupertino’s city while researching background information. While writing this story, I interviewed people from various backgrounds, from the city mayor to residents. I received vastly different perspectives and had to tie all those into one cohesive story that reflected factual information as well as the opinions of residents. It was difficult to discern what was fact or opinion while interviewing some of my sources, so I spent a long time researching California housing laws and thinking about whether it was best to include or exclude some sources.
I thoroughly researched and reported the impact of Assembly Bill 483, which provides additional state funding for mental health services in California schools. By interviewing district leaders like Associate Superintendent Trudy Gross and Wellness Space Support Specialist Doreen Bonde, I balanced both the factual details of the law with the perspectives of those directly involved in student mental health. I also highlighted student experiences and opinions on mental health support to ensure my story was well-rounded, accurate and reflective of the community’s diverse voices.
