Date: Fri 28-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-Smoke-Signals

Full Text:

Smoke Signals Staff Sticks Together

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Newtown High School journalism teacher Nicole Kraut has never worked in the

news room of a daily newspaper, but she knows all about deadlines and how

editors must use teamwork to meet them.

"Journalism is similar to teaching," Miss Kraut said Monday after school, as

the Newtown High Smoke Signals staff met in their lower-level classroom.

"It takes a special commitment and dedication. Sometimes you wonder why you're

doing it," Miss Kraut joked, though she "always knew" teaching would be right

for her.

As for journalism as a career, that would need a real interest and capacity -

as in "pure physical stamina," Miss Kraut explained.

"I couldn't do this without these kids. They're dedicated. And if I have to

spend a lot of time with them, I'm glad I like them so much," she said.

Miss Kraut, a recent University of Connecticut graduate with a master's degree

in English from Wesleyan, lives in Woodbridge. She is new to Newtown High,

having been hired last August to teach English as well as to assume the post

of newspaper adviser in place of the former, longtime Smoke Signals adviser

Kathy Swift.

The interview with Miss Kraut and her Smoke Signals staff took place during

the last week in February. The March issue was coming due, with final copy,

graphics and page layout pending. Everything was going relatively smoothly but

they had run out of blue-lined layout paper, Miss Kraut said. A temporary

annoyance.

"I can't believe Saturday is already March 1," she commented.

February had slipped by all too quickly.

Although Miss Kraut and her editorial staff were happy to be interviewed by

The Newtown Bee , they obviously couldn't linger long to discuss the ins and

outs of life in the world of journalism. There was a paper to put out.

Entertainment editor Dan Beers, seated at his computer, was searching for a

way to portray data in a sidebar graphic. He needed this extra bit of artwork

for a story he had just written concerning the relative prices of gas in

Newtown stations.

"Citgo has the best price by two cents," he said.

A junior at Newtown High, Dan hopes to major in communications in college and

perhaps go into television work or be on a writing staff for a magazine.

Tristan Schwartzman is feature editor for Smoke Signals and is in his fourth

semester of taking the journalism class at Newtown High.

"You only get one semester credit for taking journalism as an English course.

After that, you take it as an elective," said Tristan, a junior.

He is not sure he will go into journalism after he graduates from Newtown,

though, especially since he doesn't want a "sit down" job after college.

But Tristan knows he's a quick writer and enjoys interviewing people and

working on stories. He's not ruling out journalism completely, yet.

News editor Lauren Wetter is a senior who has been on the Smoke Signals staff

ever since her sophomore year. She edits the reporters' articles, checks

grammar and works on headlines "so they're ready to go."

"We're all kind of like a team here," Lauren said.

She explained that every person on the staff is committed to writing at least

two articles for each issue.

Lauren hopes to major in English at the University of Delaware, where she has

already been accepted. She, too, might consider journalism "but not the first

year."

Senior Laura McClure is editor-in-chief and has been accepted by the

University of Pennsylvania.

"They have a newspaper, so who knows?" Laura said, figuring she might continue

her journalism career.

She got off to a fine start working last summer working for the Yale Daily

News in New Haven while taking a journalism class along with 30 other high

school English students.

"I loved it," Laura said.

Concerning her Smoke Signals responsibilities, Laura was asked: What is the

hardest thing about being editor of your school newspaper?

Again, the ever-present challenge of deadlines was not to be denied.

"Getting it out! Also writing the editorial," she answered.

"I have to be sure I know what I think about something - have an opinion -

even though it might be controversial," Laura said.

Does anyone read your editorials?

"I know my friends do. And some of my teachers," she said.

This last semester, Laura has also been shadowing an editor from Reader's

Digest. It was an experience she recently summarized for her peers, parents

and teachers and school administrators at the mentorship recognition evening

Monday night.