Junior Reporter Club continues to grow
Shortly after I was named executive editor of the Herald-Standard back in February 2004, our Circulation Director Linda Esposito-Toth asked me if I would consider restarting the Junior Reporter Club. Linda explained that she was a member at one time and thought it might help us reconnect with our younger readers.
Now, I had heard much about the Junior Reporter Club. People talked about it fondly and often asked if there were any plans to bring it back. But I really knew nothing about the club since it had ended in the early 1970s, long before I came here in 1981.
So, I turned to one of my legendary predecessors, Walter “Buzz’ Storey, and asked him to explain what the club was all about. He told me that the club had started in the 1930s, and youths were invited to become club members by sending stories about their lives to the newspaper for publication.
He said it then evolved into a social club with members attending dances and various outings and events. He said that aspect dwindled over the years before the club finally shut down.
So, I wondered whether or not it would be worthwhile to restart the club. The idea, frankly, wasn’t met with universal applause.
In this day of the Internet, iPods and cell phones, there were questions about how could we get kids to sit down, write a story and then ship it off to the Herald-Standard?
But I knew the positives that could result from getting youths interested in reading and writing and how that could last for a lifetime, so I decided to give it a go.
Without a doubt, the club has definitely been a big hit with youngsters in the area. This past year we had more members than ever.
In fact, we had so many letters that the club lasted until late July before taking its annual summer hiatus.
I can’t take sole credit for its success. Clint Rhodes and Tina Graft from our Circulation Department deserve a big kudo for all the behind-the-scenes work they do such as sending out letters notifying the kids that they’ve become members and securing the various treats we get for them.
Obviously, though, we couldn’t have a club without members, and I want to thank everyone who has participated over the years.
I really appreciate letters we get from young people sending stories in on their own, but I also want to thank the teachers who have taken the time to get their students to send in letters.
One particular teacher, Jennifer Sroka, at the Albert Gallatin North Middle School, did a tremendous job last year in sending us letters all year long.
As a reward for teachers and students in the coming year, we’re planning to tally the letters from schools this year, and the class with the most letters will receive a free pop and pizza party from the Herald-Standard.
All we’re asking teachers is to please send the letters in a package together so your class gets proper credit for the letters.
Remember, if you’re interested in becoming a member of the Junior Reporter Club, it’s very easy to join. All you have to do is sit down, write a story and send it to the Herald-Standard. It should be typed or printed very clearly.
The stories can be sent to the Herald-Standard, c/o Junior Reporter Club, 8-18 Church St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401. They can also be e-mailed to mo’keefe@heraldstandard.com.
Each story should contain fewer than 100 words.
Youths writing for the first time receive a letter of congratulations from myself along with a card making them an official member of the club.
Youths getting a second story printed receive another letter from yours truly and a coupon for a treat from a local business. Youths getting more than two stories printed receive a certificate of recognition.
Return addresses should also be included with the stories. Anyone under 18 can submit a story, but the suggested ages are 7-12.
The topic for September will be, “What did you do on your summer vacation?’ Youths can also write about other topics.
So, to all the youngsters out there, get your pencils and papers ready. Maybe your class will be the one to get that pizza party.
And in the process you’ll learn how much fun it is to read and write.
Mark O’Keefe is the executive editor of the Herald-Standard. O’Keefe can be reached by e-mail at mo’keefe@heraldstandard.com, by regular mail at 8-18 Church St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401 or by phone at 724-439-7569