Senior Sydney Cain has been the editor-in-chief of the Devils’Advocate, HC’s student newspaper, since the start of her junior year, and has put great effort into building and growing the program. She has made conscious efforts to keep our journalism program from being cut and has personally developed a significant amount of content and procedures. Cain provides insight on the different aspects of her leadership role and on being a part of journalism throughout her high school career.
Cain describes how as an eighth grader, she was interested in writing for her peers and hoped to grow her writing skills. Her first two years of journalism were essential to accomplishing these goals and getting her to where she is today.
“[In] the first two years, Mrs. Isenhour really poured a lot into me,” Cain said. “She entrusted me with writing important topics [and] even taking on some early-on editorial responsibilities. I think the encouragement from adults and seeing my writing be acknowledged by people outside of journalism was extremely important in building up my confidence.”
As editor-in-chief, Cain is responsible for leading her peers in newspaper operations, setting various expectations, delegating different assignments and roles, and overall ensuring the smooth-sailing of publication.
This leadership role not only involves work within the program itself, but in cultivating a community and positive work environment for the newspaper staff. Cain has excelled at this, and mentions how the relationships she has built through journalism have been one of the best parts of her role.
“I’d say my favorite part of journalism is getting to talk to people that I would otherwise not be able to talk to [and] getting to know all sorts of different people and [building those] relationships,” Cain said.
As Cain has continued to grow the student newspaper, the Devils’ Advocate has also helped her to grow individually.
“I think people would describe me as a little more outgoing than they would’ve a few years ago, [as the class has] just kind of given me the confidence to talk to other people and get over [my] social anxiety,” Cain said.
The student newspaper is crucial to bolstering student voice, as can be seen with our editor-in-chief, who has grown into her voice through publication alongside her peers. Cain also details how journalism is key in building lifelong writing and communication skills.
“[Journalism] fosters your writing skills, but it also fosters your communication skills [and] helps you convey messages [clearly], which I think is kind of a point in the modern world that people are struggling with,” Cain said.
Through journalism, students are able to master the journalistic writing style, as well as implement important communication skills and learn how to work collaboratively with different people. In class, newspaper functions as a work environment, which gives students experience in reporting directly to their peers, while also taking on leadership roles of their own.
With her involvement in the Devils’ Advocate over the last four years, Cain has not only been able to witness but also has facilitated a lot of the changes with the program. She describes some of the major shifts during her time here.
“Seeing the changes has just been amazing, it looks nothing like it did my freshman year and I’m so proud to see it and say that,” Cain said. “We have gone mostly digital, we’ve started social media which we [previously] did not have, and I just hope we keep doing those things and stay relevant.” Cain said.
Cain advises that future leaders within the Devils’ Advocate lead without limits, which she has absolutely exemplified through her time as editor-in-chief. Cain also addressed key leadership aspects she would like to leave with her successors.
“Always be a leader that encompasses integrity and hard work,” Cain said. “Don’t try to take the easy way out, [and] push your peers and push yourselves to be the best journalists that they can be because in the end, it really does pay off.” Cain said.
As such an involved and passionate leader, Cain leaves big shoes to fill following her graduation this spring. However, she has laid a solid foundation that future staff will have no problem building upon.
Cain’s final piece of advice for future members of the Devils’ Advocate is grounded in the most essential principle of journalism.
“Remember your responsibilities to the community and do your best to make sure all different voices are heard,” Cain said. “Highlight all different kinds of people and try to keep your preferences aside from it.”
The Devils’ Advocate will miss our editor-in-chief greatly, but Cain has a bright future ahead and her impact on journalism at HC will never be forgotten.
