With the clicking of computers, the loud chatter of students, and the sketching of page designs, the Iliad is hard at work. The journalism class focuses on writing articles and taking photos about news, features, Editorial, Pop Culture, and Sports.
In sports, there are lots of pictures of games, featuring star athletes.
Pop Culture covers music, TV shows, books, and new movies, like the Minecraft movie and TV series Good American Family.
The front page news includes writing and pictures about different events happening around Poway or at Poway High. News Feature and Feature are pages featuring students, clubs, or anything else at Poway High. On the Editorial page, students express their views on issues at school or just in their daily lives.
The Staff Editorial reflects the opinion of the entire class and is usually about campus topics like Bathrooms being shut down or reckless driving in the school parking lots.
Pop Culture does reviews on new books, movies, music, food, and anything that’s going on in Pop Culture. In-depth has a topic that the whole page will revolve around, and provides information about the information for that topic. The Iliad has two sports pages with photos and articles about the athletics at Poway, or features outstanding athletes.
The Iliad is mostly a student-run class. Students have opportunities to gain leadership roles that help them learn responsibility.
Editors each have a page they are responsible for, and the staff writers write or take pictures for them.
Associate Editors, who are editors with a little more experience, can check through things after an editor has.
The Iliad is led by one or more editors-in-chief, usually seniors who have been in the Iliad throughout high school.
Editor-in-Chief Olivia Brown has been on staff since her freshman year. She feels that the Iliad was a great way for her to meet new people and help her feel more comfortable talking to people.
“ My freshman year, it helped me get out of my bubble and be more open to having conversations,” Brown said.
The Iliad is a way for students to get real-world experience and practice meeting deadlines, dealing with bosses, and being held accountable for their work quality.
The Iliad can also help students build a high school portfolio to prepare for a career in journalism or anything related to communications and public relations..
Iliad Advisor TerriAnne Libby had been the advisor for over 30 years. She enjoys teaching the Iliad because of the students, and because it is so practical
“For any student, it’s a great real-world experience. Students learn how to talk to people, connect themselves professionally, meet deadlines, and work with other people. I have Editors who receive writers’ work and give them feedback and help mentor them. The work that’s produced in the Iliad is of professional quality, I have had students put together portfolios and apply for jobs using the things that were published in the Iliad,” Libby said.
Associate Editor Kenzie Mehl likes how the class is so close, how everyone is comfortable with one another, and how there’s something for everyone.
“People should join the Iliad because we have a little bit of everything. If you like writing, editing, making art, or taking photos, then we have a place for you,” Mehl said.
The Iliad is not just a “normal” class. Everyone can find a place for themselves, whether it’s writing, art, or photography.
Students who would like to join the Iliad can request Journalism in the college preparatory elective section on their CRF or talk to their counselor.
