At the Bronx River News, students practice journalism — and learn so much more

Deborah Porterfield is the faculty adviser to the Bronx River News’ student-led newsroom. (Photo courtesy of Deborah Porterfield)

Working for a newspaper pushes students out of their comfort zones. Some are initially afraid to interview people, especially students or administrators they don’t know. But eventually, these timid students gain confidence.”

Deborah Porterfield

When Md Ferdous, now 18, joined Bronx River News as a junior, he was a quiet student who lacked confidence in both his writing and interviewing skills. Two years later, he graduated as editor-in-chief, leading the student newsroom and mentoring classmates, a transformation he credits to learning journalism by doing journalism.

“I’m most proud of my change from being an introvert to a confident person who was able to lead a class and manage the workflow,” he said.

That transformation is exactly what faculty adviser Deborah Porterfield hopes students gain from their time at Bronx River News, Bronx River High School’s student-run publication.

“School newspapers are one of the few extracurricular activities that give students a voice to decide what matters and then use their journalism skills to publish stories that have an impact beyond the classroom,” Porterfield said.

That impact can be lasting. A story about cyberbullying still attracts readers from across the country more than two years after publication. An obituary honoring a beloved teacher who died this year provided comfort to students, colleagues, friends and family.

And when a bomb threat forced students to evacuate to icy, winter sidewalks, student journalists documented the chaotic scene on deadline.

Members of the Bronx River News newsroom team are seen here attending the Baruch College “Newsies!” Awards, an annual journalism competition and conference hosted by the College to celebrate journalism excellence among students attending New York City public high schools. (Photo courtesy of Bronx River News)

“Working for a newspaper pushes students out of their comfort zones,” Porterfield said. “Some are initially afraid to interview people, especially students or administrators they don’t know. But eventually, these timid students gain confidence.”

They also experience a newsroom much like a professional one. They brainstorm story ideas, cover breaking news, photograph events, edit one another’s work and publish stories online. Because the staff is small, editors often serve as writers, photographers and illustrators, while Porterfield provides guidance and the final review before stories go live.

For Staff Writer Franklin Sosa Araujo, 16 years old, who joined the newspaper as a sophomore, the adjustment happened faster than expected.

Franklin Sosa Araujo is a staff writer with the Bronx River News — and a two-time Baruch College “Newsies!” award winner. (Photo courtesy of Franklin Sosa Araujo)

“When I first got into the newspaper, I had no idea how to write a story,” he said. “Like with all new experiences, I spent a lot of time second-guessing everything. However, all of that was put to rest within maybe two weeks.” Now a two-time Baruch College “Newsies!” award winner who will attend the New York Times Scholastic Journalism Program this summer, Araujo says journalism has taught him to think differently — not just about writing, but about people.

“The reporting skill that has been hardest for me to develop would be asking the right questions,” he said. “I spend a lot of time wondering, ‘What is this person going to push back on? How do I get the most without making things difficult or wasting too much time?’”

One of his favorite assignments was co-writing a review of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” “Working on it taught me that not every story has to be done on your own. Working with others can help the story be its best self,” he said.

Md Ferdous served as the Bronx River News’ editor-in-chief his senior year. (Photo courtesy of Md Ferdous)

For Ferdous, journalism became more than a way to inform others. It became a way to better understand himself. While writing a deeply personal story during his senior year, he discovered writing could also be a form of reflection.

Porterfield believes those experiences prepare students for much more than careers in journalism: “I believe that students who learn to think like journalists also become informed citizens. They don’t accept information at face value. They ask questions, do their own research and seek different viewpoints.”

For Araujo, the newsroom’s most valuable lesson came through revision.

“When you submit a story, there’s a 100% chance it’ll get sent back to you,” he said. “That sounds frustrating, and it definitely was, but then your story would get published, and that happy feeling made everything worthwhile.”

At Bronx River News, students leave with more than clips and bylines. They leave knowing their voices can inform, comfort and strengthen a community. That’s perhaps the most enduring lesson a newsroom can offer.

Taayoo Murray is a New York City-based journalist who covers health, wellness and parenting. She is the founder of The Care Capitalist, which convenes off-the-record rooms to think through healthcare’s hardest questions. She welcomes emails at taayoo_murray@yahoo.com.