Opinions
& Reviews:
Opinions and reviews are a unique and often underappreciated journalistic opportunity. As a result of being protected under the New Voices Law in Washington State, I published pieces which discuss topics that are criticized for their controversiality or are perceived as indecent or inappropriate in other areas of the country; from queer issues to reproductive rights to a subtle reckoning with my own mental health, I hope these opinion and review pieces highlight my passion for social justice and hope for collective unity in times of strife.
Abortion, as it is across the nation and world, is a highly controversial and contested topic in our newsroom and school. When I first watched this SNL skit, I found the nuanced layers genius and the rage of Cecily Strong cathartic. A review on this skit felt like the perfect avenue to expressing my opinion without being too generic or vague; rather than arguing for access to reproductive healthcare, I instead focused on my perceived absurdity of lived realities centered in forced silence in the context of abortion rights. The community feedback I received from this piece confirmed its necessity; peers reached out with comments of how this article spurred both internal and communal discussion as well as reduced senses of isolation.
Opinions for The Cougar Chronicle served as not only opportunities to connect with and encourage conversation in our community, but also outlets for personal concerns that I felt impacted underrepresented communities - in this case, women's sports. I wanted to shed light on a topic that had several social implications, from its effects on young girl athletes' self-perceptions to the now-strained relationship a once highly-connective team shared with their supporter base. With this opinion piece, I hoped to highlight systemic inequities and lack of opportunities to further amplify untold stories and unheard voices.
These two reviews were of content by the same artist, and in fact, from the same album. Additionally, it was my first review of artistic content, where I analyzed and formed thought-out ideas of what the songs meant or implicated. I took the opportunity to share in vulnerability with the community, beyond encouraging them to listen to Eliza McLamb; sharing preliminary stories of my own mental health experiences and adversity was made easier through the enjoyment of music. I am incredibly grateful for McLamb's intelligence and awareness, as well as my community for sharing in conversation and promoting acceptance of all youth experiences and backgrounds.
At the beginning of my final year in the journalism program, I was determined to make the most of it. I wanted to connect with my community in ways that I never had before, from publishing more content to being more open about my own experiences. This opinion piece was written with these intentions in mind, as well as honoring a soccer legend's career and activism. I found myself thinking and thinking and thinking about this piece - wondering if I was doing Megan Rapinoe's legacy justice, if my community would appreciate or even agree with what I had to say, and what other people would think about the subtle nods to my own lived experiences. Watching this publish to our SNO website was bizarre; something I poured my personal ideas and perspectives into, not only based in my opinion but also my identity, was now ready for everyone and anyone to read. Here, I wanted to acknowledge a life on the soccer field that, for many community members, was very close to home, but also seize the opportunity to share in personal vulnerability, inspired by none other than Megan Rapinoe.
This review was very journalistically challenging for me. It opened my mind and encouraged me to explore areas of critique and analysis of the story itself. Summarizing without spoiling and analyzing without getting too technical and disinteresting to readers felt like a grueling process. However, I deeply enjoyed the read and felt compassion for Salinger's titular characters, and found myself relating to the fraughtness of always wanting to be a supportive and positive sibling. This review served to encourage my community members to read Franny and Zooey with an open mind, approaching the characters with compassion yet the ability to criticize or critique - something I feel is essential in a positive livelihood.