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editor in chief of The Tower

As for the future, I most likely plan to attend the University of Michigan. I am currently undecided of what I want to study. Yes, I’m sorry- I don’t want a career in journalism. Ironically, I prefer numbers rather than words. Maybe I will do some work with The Michigan Daily. No matter what, I will always be a journalist.

 

I will deliver the truth. I will ask questions. I will never forget what I am a part of.

During the high school awards portion of the ceremony, I would watch The Tower students go up to get their copious number of individual awards as well as their Spartan. At the time, the Tower seemed like such a foreign thing-- like a matured and advanced version of my middle school publication. I remember sitting there thinking “that is what I eventually want to be a part of.”

I have come a long way since that moment, being an editor of my middle school paper for two years. It wasn’t until the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony in 7th grade that I realized I wanted to stick with journalism. My small staff left with plenty of awards. It was in that moment I discovered all my work meant something and was appreciated by others. Recognition is all I ever hope for.

That is what made being announced editor in chief of The Tower such an incredible experience. I had finally found my voice. People look at me with respect, seek me out for advice and trust me to run the paper. My six years of passion was recognized. In that moment, I was confident that my co-editor and I could and would lead the newspaper down a successful path. It was a great mentality to start off the year.

We are currently at issue 17 out of 27 and I wouldn’t change a moment of it. This year has succeeded as planned. We crafted a sleek, organized design style. We are organized in editing and publishing stories. We get out of deadline at 7:30 p.m., instead of 10 p.m.

Sophomore year was when I discovered my interest for designing. Although back then my pages were not always executed the best, they had potential and creativity. I usually did front pages and tried to change up the design every week. Junior year I was a part of the leadership team and helped lead the designers and staffers. During this time I was able to improve my design and set examples for other page designers on staff. Every few weeks I would design a feature page. Now as Editor in Chief and being in charge of 70 staffers, I don’t have as much time to write stories and design pages. My job is no longer about designing and creating cool pages, it's about teaching others to create the type of pages I do. I have to shape future leaders.

Sixth years later and here I am. My name is Elizabeth (Liz) Bigham and I am one of the Co Editors in Chief of Grosse Pointe South's weekly newspaper, The Tower.

I used to not believe I could be the leader that I am now. I stand a little over 5 feet, with a quiet voice. Prior to my leadership positions, my presence at times was overlooked. At deadlines, I would sit in the corner and wouldn’t get up until my page was finished. I was reserved, yet motivated. The two qualities make a surprisingly good combination. Working closely with the page editors junior year made me realize that leading isn’t defined by having a loud voice and a powerful demeanor. I qualify a leader as someone who is looked up to in a positive way.

I began journalism in 7th grade. I knew nothing about the subject, I just liked the teacher.

I didn't expect myself to be so devoted to The Tower, or journalism. Freshmen year consisted of a prerequisite journalism class, which was practically a refresher course of everything I learned in middle school. At the end of the year I wasn't planning to apply for a position. I was a honors student, two sport athlete, and a quiet awkward teenager. Rod Satterthwaite sat me down one day in May and said ,"Our page editors are lacking this year. I need you to take the job." I trusted Satt, so I took the position. Still to this day I thank him for beginning my passion.

It was in this moment that I realized The Tower is doing amazing, and other people agree. It wasn’t just my bias. Being recognized by such a prominent student journalism organization was a surprising, yet well deserved moment. My staff and I dealt with our hardships in a mature way. We put in the ambition and we don’t plan to stop our efforts.

I doubted our success because of these adversities. My mentality changed when my editors and I traveled to Dallas in November of this year. We attended the JEA/NSPA fall conference and submitted our paper for 'best of show in broadsheets'. At the awards ceremony, judges started at 10th place and by the time they announced 5th, Mrs. Edgerton turned to us and said, “It’s okay if you guys don’t place, I’m proud of you.” By that I accepted defeat and zoned out, thinking about what we should have for dinner that night. But then I heard, “first place...The Tower”. Our reaction was priceless. We were truly the underdogs.

In my own eyes, I believe we are thriving. It hasn’t been an easy journey, though. Administration changes and their attempt restrict our first amendment rights has been a stagnant issue throughout the year. Our principal puts our journalism program at the bottom of his priorities because of this, which resulted in our shrinking budget, denied interviews, and uncomfortable encounters with our staff. Also, a group of our staff was busted for a party outside of school grounds. A lot of heat was received from administration, as well as us deciding if we should cover our own news. We decided to do it. Whenever things seem to be going well, something always blows up in our face. In the past month, one of our top editors was kicked off staff because of behavioral issues. It has been difficult moving forward without him.

I’m not one to talk about myself frequently. As awkward as it is for me to write about myself so much, being recognized for ALL MIPA would mean the world to me. As my 7th grade-self realized, recognition is a healthy and desirable feeling. Being in charge of a 90 volume high school weekly paper is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m not a leader because I want to beef up my resume. I do my job because I feel I am the best one to carry on the duty of publishing such a legendary newspaper.  It feels like I’m documenting history. I feel valued and I thank The Tower for this. I would love to experience this value outside The Tower and to be acknowledged at such a greater scale like ALL MIPA offers.

ABOUT ME

// OUTSIDE THE TOWER ROOM //

// AT THE MIPA BOOTH IN DALLAS //

//DEADLINE SMILES //

// EDITORS IN CHIEF //

// BEST OF SHOW AWARD FROM NSPA //

// CELEBRATING THE AWARD//

// AT COLUMBIA UNIVERISTY FOR THE CSPA CONVENTION //

// HOSTING A RADIO SHOW AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY AS A PART OF LOYOLA STORYTELLING WORKSHOP //

// WINNING A SPARTY FOR DESIGN CLASS AT MIPA //

//POSING UNDER THE BRIDGE NEXT TO SHAW HALL DURING MIPA CAMP //

// SENIORS IN EAST LANSING //

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