Meet the Shore Weekly Record Student Editorial Team
Year group: Year 12
Why did you join the SWR Student Editorial Team? I saw the SWR as an influential platform within the School that could influence the student body, the staff, and the wider Shore Community. Therefore, I saw the SWR as an opportunity to challenge assumptions and start discussions in the rapidly changing world. I also sought an outlet to express my passion for film, politics and philosophy, and I saw the SWR as a comprehensive way of doing so.
What have you learned from the experience? As the student editor of the SWR, I have gained a deeper insight into both my writing voice and the constructions of the English language. Through the weekly articles in the Holtermann Columns, I have found a pattern of expression that I can distinctively call my own, and I have thus made the necessary adjustments to grow as a writer. By editing the works of others, I have grown closer to the grammatical composition of language, repeatedly having to sharpen my awareness of dangling modifiers, apostrophes, commas and subject-verb agreements.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? The SWR is not a traditional newspaper and thus should not be seen as a source of mainstream/breaking news like the Sydney Morning Herald. With student articles mandated to be more than 600 words long, the SWR publication is a collection of pieces that give insight or opinion about the events that are relevant in our contemporary world and to our audience, whether that be the economy, sporting events, politics, or philosophy. Through our writing, the SWR hopes to provide an informed, holistic and comprehensive analysis of the topics of interest, which often means providing a viewpoint contrary to the opinions held by popular media or segments of the Shore Community. In doing so, we hope to stimulate reflection and discussion that may hopefully result in growth or increased nuance in understanding.
Year group: Year 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? Joining the team was an effort to expand my leadership responsibilities and better my managerial/interpersonal skills. The operation of news teams and magazines interested me; the depth of coordination required to bring together a full paper was inspirational (ever-heightened by the chaos of teenage boys). Further, and perhaps most plainly, I’ve always had a passion for writing, and this seemed a fitting pursuit that would force me to develop my skills.
What have you learned from the experience? I’ve learnt what I set out to learn; my organisational, interpersonal and writing skills have grown greatly. Sure, writing makes up a large portion of my job, but for the most part, sporadic flares of interest fill out my articles. The SWR has been most beneficial as an opportunity for me to operate with professionals in a slightly higher stakes environment, learning to deal with deadlines and working through the chaos of a weekly, voluntary newsletter.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? The SWR is valuable as entertainment and information. This year alone, a multitude of incredibly impressive, insightful and thought-provoking articles have been published by my peers. Yet I believe the true beauty of the SWR is in its ability to facilitate the development of the boys’ skills, to let them express themselves, and, at the senior end, to learn through leadership. It has been a beyond-fulfilling experience for me. It has been a pathway for recognition of my work, manifested in my subsequent invite to intern at Forbes Magazine, a privilege born from the SWR.
Year Group: 12
Why did you join the SWR? Every Friday afternoon throughout my schooling, I would see the student newspaper handed out to students as they left the School. It became routine to skim the paper as I walked down to the train station to find any interesting articles to keep myself occupied on the train ride home. So, coming into Year 11, I took the opportunity to join the SWR Student Editorial Team and contribute to the paper that played a memorable part in my tenure at the School.
What have you learned from the experience? As the Graphics Editor of the SWR, I was involved in creating the visual aspect of the SWR, which required me to learn how to use Microsoft Word and Photoshop in a way that would allow me to produce a clean final product every week without hiccups. Furthermore, I had to develop sufficient communication skills and learn to work to tight deadlines consistently to ensure the SWR would be distributed every Friday. It is still a learning experience, and I continue to hone these skills as time goes on.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? The SWR has served as the School’s primary outlet for student journalism. I believe it provides a unique opportunity for student writing to be displayed to an audience regularly, allowing students to develop their writing and providing a consistent platform for that writing to be shared.
Year group: 12
Why did you join the SWR team? I was particularly interested in joining the SWR Senior Committee as I wanted to develop my writing skills, learn more about current events and engage in a team that would give me valuable experience and insight into journalism and the functioning of a paper. I was also encouraged by a boy in my Tutor Group who held a key role in the team the year before.
What have you learned from the experience? I have learned how to adequately prepare for, research and write about events in the world. Over the year, I have considerably improved my ability to search for and comprehend other articles I could draw from to form a more holistic and thorough article. Additionally, through my research for my articles, I have become far more knowledgeable on nuanced world events allowing me to present a more informed and worldly view in my writing.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community?
I believe that the SWR provides the Shore Community, whether students, parents, teachers, or any others connected to the School, with a showcase of Shore boys’ independent thinking and creativity and keeps them updated on current Shore events. The SWR is integral to the culture and tradition of Shore, inspiring boys in younger years to pursue their interests and express to the school community their passions while providing the senior boys on the committee with valuable experience and an opportunity to continue the legacy of the SWR.
Year group: Year 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? I was interested in the discursive style of article writing and improving my authorial voice.
What have you learned from the experience? Sourcing inspiration and time management strengthened my writing, and the best stories are those you write with the audience’s enjoyment in mind.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? Showcasing little parts of the Shore Community provides an underutilised platform for boys to express their discourses, allowing them to flesh out their own worldviews.
Year group: Year 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? I joined the SWR editorial team to enhance my writing skills by writing about topics that interest me weekly and, in turn, sharing my writing with the Shore Community. Furthermore, I wanted to improve my research and analytical skills on various topics to write about them to the Shore Community.
What have you learned from the experience? I have learnt many valuable writing and time management skills as I need to plan my responses and have them ready for submission each week. The overall experience has also been beneficial and has helped me in various subjects that require essay writing, such as English and History, as well as analysing topics and putting the findings into writing.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community?
I believe the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community is its ability to create a sense of community as it keeps the whole Shore community involved. Furthermore, the SWR brings various topics surrounding Shore to light through the voice of its students while also showcasing regular information from the Headmaster to the students and parents. The SWR also explores various topics where the boys showcase their knowledge by writing for the wider community.
Year group: Year 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? I joined the SWR Editorial Team to pursue a passion I’ve had for writing since I was young. Combining this with my love for sports, the SWR also gave me the opportunity to share my insights into sports with the greater Shore Community. A student-run newspaper is so rare these days, and to be a part of an entirely student-run initiative and working alongside my peers has been a rewarding experience.
What have you learned from the experience? Since starting in Term 2 of Year 11, I have learnt that you are always best at things you are interested in, and therefore to write about what you are passionate about so the process is never boring or feels like a chore.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? I think the publication informs the Shore Community with every detail it features. From the sports results and reports to fundraising events and initiatives, everyone that makes up the Shore Community can find something important or interesting in the SWR.
Year group: 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? I’ve always liked writing about concepts outside of School; the SWR gave me an opportunity to report and share what I like to write about with the rest of the School. However, the main reason I joined was the impact the older SWR student editors had on me by encouraging me and giving my articles a chance within the paper.
What have you learned from the experience? The main thing I have learned from this experience is an increase in my writing capabilities and vocabulary. This happened almost subconsciously as the more I wrote, the more I began to improve.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? Whilst the articles from all the boys are great, I feel that the SWR’s biggest contribution to the Shore Community is the awareness it brings to the sporting aspect. Through giving us weekly updates on how the Shore teams have gone, I believe that boys become more involved in the School, even just by glancing over the paper.
Year group: 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? I joined because I’ve always had a passion for writing and journalism, especially concerning current affairs and pop culture. The SWR is a medium that allows me to achieve this desire while providing me with a voice to communicate with the wider Shore Community.
What have you learned from the experience? Through writing for the SWR, not only have I developed my skill as a writer, but along the way, I have learned more about my fellow SWR members, as well as my peers and teachers, who often feature in my articles. Additionally, writing articles each week has encouraged me to educate myself about the current state of the world and important events happening around me. One thing that surprised me about the SWR was the amount of people involved and the level of detail and care put into the publication each week.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? I think it is the way it connects boys, teachers and their families across all ages and cultures to Shore. Not only does it give a voice to those who wish to express their opinions, but it also celebrates the achievements of countless individuals or groups in the Shore Community. Without the SWR, the connection between boys in different year groups and the community as a whole would be compromised. In this way, I think the SWR also greatly contributes to the School spirit.
Year Group: 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? Writing has always been a passion of mine, so the decision to join the team came naturally to me. Not only would the prospect of writing for the SWR hone in and enhance my writing abilities, but it would also allow me to experiment with different writing styles and stylistic features. Furthermore, the freedom to write and explore virtually any area and topic seemed like a good way to broaden my knowledge of contemporary and historical issues.
What have you learned from the experience? My writing skills have significantly improved, and my knowledge has broadened through the vast range of topics I’ve written across the past few terms. This has made me more knowledgeable and involved with current affairs across the globe and allowed me to write more adeptly in my essays during school exams. Furthermore, forcing myself to write during most weeks has made me more disciplined, and I have learned how to manage my time better to meet deadlines every week.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? I think it is its ability to nurture and develop the writing capabilities of those who are participating each year. This has prepared generations of Shore boys to succinctly convey their ideas through their writing, which has prepared them as they leave the School and participate in their future endeavours.
Year group: Year 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? Throughout my time at Shore, I have been impassioned to serve the School and community, and, seeking to manifest my communicative skills, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to lend myself to engage with the community whilst also being able to comment on and explore ideas of my own.
What have you learned from the experience? During my time in the SWR, I learnt the importance of organisation, especially with one’s time, the significance of comprehensive research, and matured in my articulation and eloquence.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? To me, the most important part the SWR plays is in serving as a nexus between the students and the broader Shore Community. Our writing as students enables a closer look into the students’ perspective and provides a platform for students to discuss topical events and present our ideas.
Year group: 12
Why did you join the SWR Editorial Team? I joined the SWR Editorial Team as I thought it was a great way to keep up with current events and develop as a writer. I was also inspired by someone who had a key role the year before me and told me about his experience and how enjoyable it was.
What have you learned from the experience? I have learned how to research and articulate information in a way that allows everyone to understand complicated issues in the world. Over the year, my writing has improved, and I moved from just writing about sporting news to more complicated economic events throughout the world and their effects on the economy.
What do you think is the most important contribution that the SWR makes to the Shore Community? I believe that the SWR’s most important contribution to the community is providing the students with a way to inform the School about the issues in the world. It allows boys to express their creativity and provides a place for the School to see it.
