The Upstart

Journalism students currently in the Opinion Coverage class work on their first columns. This class is instructed by Lorena Craighead. photo by Samantha VanHoef

After staff interviews, taking a few pictures and working outside, journalists in the Opinion Coverage class are working on their first column of MIPA. Instructor Lorena Craighead has high hopes for the what the students will gain from this experience.

“[I hope that they] just feel more empowered by their own writing.”

Students in the class are gaining just that.

“It’s really interesting,” Mary Kate Winn of Mercy High School said. “I’ve always liked writing for Pro/Con and this class is building that type of skill.”

Later, members of the class will continue to revise their original columns and update their posts on Tumblr.

“I just want to learn how to better express my opinion and present facts in a non-biased way,” Winn said.

Expressing individual views is what makes opinion writing worthwhile for Craighead as she continues her week.

“[I love] the passion that you get to display, when in more standard forms of journalism you have to abridge that to remain more neutral.”

SAMANTHA VANHOEF / THE UPSTART

Instructor Lorena Craighead works from her laptop as her students write columns on deadline. Craighead is a MIPA board member and teaches English, yearbook and newspaper in Detroit Public Schools. photo by Samantha VanHoef

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