In this behind-the-scenes audio piece, Ana Hurtado takes listeners inside the Wildcat Chronicle and its lab to capture the real conversations, brainstorming and chaos that go into producing student journalism. Special thanks to Aly Dusing for her help with this piece.

Prefer to read? A full transcript of the audio is included below.

Aly Dusing 0:03
Keep going.

Evelyn Mondragon 0:07
We say it again, the peanut butter one?

Alek Ochoa 0:09
Yeah,

Evelyn Mondragon 0:11
No, let’s not. No, we’re not using that one! ‘ Cuz technically, that’s like an extra: we took six pictures. We’re not doing the peanut butter one, no. That’s so stupid.

Ana Hurtado 0:28
Can someone click on their keyboard?

Ana Hurtado 0:33
The majority of people only see the polished and final product of an article, video or photograph that’s published on the Wildcat Chronicle, but not always the chaos or process behind it. So today, I’ll be giving you a peek into what is going on in a newsroom and the experiences you can get from joining journalism.

Juliet Payton 0:52
It’s really like the idea of this, but I don’t know, like, do you want me to, like, reach out to their coaches and ask them, like, about, there’s like, status achievements, and then get quotes, like, after that, and then just talk about, basically, like, like, here are some of our underclassmen stars I wrote there, and then just like, kind of, like, list off basically, and then like, list off names and list off things they’ve done and stuff like that.

Ana Hurtado 1:17
Let’s hear the perspective of a third year sports reporter and senior, Juliet. Payton. Juliet, what is something that journalism has taught you, and why do you think other people should take it

Juliet Payton 1:26
Like I’ve talked to a lot more people and met more of the community, especially like within the school, I’ve, like, met so many more people and interacted with so many more people than I ever would have before. So it’s definitely helped me that aspect of being more connected with everyone, and just being more confident in myself and my voice and my ability to like go out and talk to other people,

Leo Mendez 1:49
…brainstorm to see what am I gonna publish?

Juliet Payton 1:51
Do you want me to just wear it?

Ja’Nyah Villa 1:51
Do you have any other ideas?

Juliet Payton 1:53
Do you wanna wear one?

Leo Mendez 1:54
I feel like I’m really good at making or giving ideas to other people, but not myself.

Ana Hurtado 1:59
I’ll be doing a quick interview with the Wildcat Chronicle’s news and feature editor, Ruby Guerrero,

Ruby Guerrero 2:03
It’s really, I think, taught me to think on your feet. You really have to know how to go up to people. That’s my biggest thing as a news editor. You have to know how to go up to people and just, really, just ask for what you want.

Juliet Payton 2:18
I’m gonna send out some emails tonight, probably when I get home about and I’m gonna ask, like the coaches what they think.

Ana Hurtado 2:29
I’ll be interviewing seniors Leo Mendez, who’s been on the Chronicle for two years and first semester journalist, Alondra Mendoza.

Leo Mendez 2:36
I feel like journalism has taught me a lot, mostly about work ethic. If you’re willing to put in the effort and like, put yourself out there, you will see a lot of great results.

Alondra Mendoza 2:49
I feel journalism is something that I feel like everyone should like experience, because it does help you in variety of ways, and it is like a once in a lifetime experience, and I really think that it’s helped me a lot.

Juliet Payton 3:02
I’m pretty sure you just could hear that. And, yeah, that’s, that’s what life is like in our lab. I feel like I could, like, tell, like, a team story right now. That’s how I feel in this room.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai