The Walpole High School journalism program consists of two classes, one Journalism I class and one Journalism II and III class, work together to disseminate news throughout the school. Reporting on minor school events to major phenomena that take place across the world students from both classes come together to create a newspaper, The Rebellion, and an online extension of the newspaper at https://walpolestudentmedianetwork.com. Not only do students write articles about news, they also report on sports, entertainment, express their own views about controversial issues through editorials, and run a very successful advertising business to keep bringing in funds. Updating the website with new articles almost everyday and creating a newspaper that is produced every two months the Rebellion staff works hard to circulate news throughout the school and the town. Very recently these hard working journalizers as well as their advisor, Conor Cashman, were recognized for their articles and their newspaper, online as well as in print, as a whole. Every year the New England Scholastic Press Association awards deserving journalism programs in scholastic editing and publishing. This year the Rebellion received four overall awards: three highest achievement awards and one All-New England award. The Rebellion staff earned the second place All-New England award for their website. Without the website editor, senior Ali St. Germain, and former graduate Michael Demerais, the website would not have been a major success. With separate catagories for news, entertainment, sports, and editorials, along with multimedia features, the Rebellion website is highly sophisticated for a high school journalism program. With over 1,000 views each month and a facebook page that links to the website the Rebellion online also received the Highest Achievement award, Class I division. Online, as well as in print, the Rebellion is one of the highest ranking papers in its class. The New England Scholastic Press Association also gave out an award of Highest Achievement in Class I for the Rebellion Newspaper, print edition. Although the newspaper is only circulated five times per year, the average paper consists of about 20 pages and takes a lot of time and effort to produce. “Winning a Class I Highest Achievement Award is so great for the journalism program. I’m happy that we have been recognized for all our hard work throughout the year,” said senior News Editor, Brigette Lawton.
The Rebellion newspaper was also recognized for former Walpole High School graduate Caroline Cohn’s article on “Flawed teacher layoff system reduces education quality.” In this well written article, Cohn discusses teacher layoffs and the potential effects that these layoffs can have on a student’s overall schooling experience, winning her a Special Achievement award.In the past, the Rebellion has received awards from the New England Scholastic Press Association, but never of this magnitude. With another four awards to add to its collection the Rebellion staff is proud of their in both their online and print editions. Senior advertisement editor, Julia Connell, said, “I am really happy with our awards. I think the Rebellion is a positive aspect of this school that is not normally recognized and I think these awards are a great accomplishment.”
