Opinion

Editorial Student journalists persist despite pandemic, strained communication

Reporting remotely through Zoom, editing stories, designing pages for the magazine and yearbook throughout a pandemic have been some of the most challenging things our publication staf has gone through since

March 13, 2020. It has brought multiple obstacles such as building strong communication among staf members, juggling our classes and assignments with our journalism duties and staying motivated. With Student Press Freedom Day taking place on Feb. 26, the signifcant role student journalists play has never been more essential than it is right now during the pandemic. Aligning with this year’s theme of “Journalism Against the

Odds,” student journalists have gone above and beyond in their dedication to sharing important news with their community. From reporting and covering an array of topics such as youth involvement in activism and facing censorship, able to consistently report on COVID-19 have come back stronger and found they continue to inform their peers and throughout the pandemic, cover the ways to adapt to the unideal circumcommunity throughout this difcult 2020 Presidential Election and the Black stances of distance learning. Some of the time. Lives Matter protests last summer. yearbook editors were given laptops to Providing localized coverage in an There are many stories to be told help them fnish the yearbook from last accessible manner is at the forefront of within our own student population. Our year and are currently putting togetha student journalist’s duty. During the publication has covered students who er the 2020-21 yearbook. The website coronavirus pandemic, student journalare overwhelmed with school work and has been constantly updated with new ists have worked from home to bring taking care of younger siblings as well as stories throughout distance learning on updates on case those who are working during the pan- an array of topics. Staf members from counts, local school demic. Our digital media editors have both publications have attended virtual and district reopening also continued producing video content workshops, including the national high schedules and hear despite remote learning. They have school journalism convention in the fall from the students and created content on music teacher Wes and have received various awards from teachers being direct- Hambright’s album and the importance contests we’ve participated in. ly afected by shut- of voting, all from their homes. Despite all of the challenges and downs and distance It has not been easy communicating dedication that come with being a learning. with everyone on staf since the class student journalist, our work is crucial and Our publica- only meets about two times a week. necessary. They have the opportunity to tion has successfully In eforts to combat this, we’ve tried voice the opinions and thoughts of their reported on many im- strengthening the bond by doing vari- fellow peers and teachers. We are able to portant and time-sen- ous ice breakers throughout the year. give a diferent perspective of the historisitive topics despite Although The Pearl Post did not cal time we are living through right now. the difculties posed produce a magazine from March through by distance learn- June 2020, we are now producing our Cartoon by Valery Barrera ing. We have been third magazine of this school year. We

Photo by Maribella Ambrosio Daniel Pearl Magnet High School Student Media staf conducts meetings through Zoom, seeing each other only two to three times a week. Staf writers, magazine editors and Prestige Yearbook editors use their limited time to connect and produce content.

Protect LAUSD students’ health; enforce staf, faculty vaccinations

By Nathalie Miranda

Almost a year into the pandemic and still be safe. that forced students out of school, So far, the Pfzer-BioTech vaccine the Los Angeles Unifed School has shown 95 percent efectiveness District (LAUSD) still doesn’t have a and the Moderna vaccine has shown return date. Ensuring all staf is vacci- 94.1 percent efectiveness in preventnated before reopening will provide a ing laboratory-confrmed COVID-19 in safeguard for returns and the health of people who haven’t had the illness yet. students. Additionally, the side efects from both

LAUSD Superintendent Austin vaccines have been relatively mild, with Beutner shared on Feb. 8 that the earliest only a few people experiencing a bit reopenings of elementary schools would more severe side efects. only be made possible through the Experts also believe getting a vac-

vaccination of “ cine can pre25,000 district vent serious employees. illness even However, to Wearing a mask and so- if someone ensure safety of all, district cial distancing will only contracts COVID-19. teachers and staf must do so much in slowing While it is still unreceive the vaccine be- down the spread but the known how long the fore returning to in-person vaccine is the main tool protection from the vischool. in putting a stop to the rus will last, Vaccinating staf prior pandemic. it is clear that getting to returning the vaccine Nathalie Miranda ”to school would beneft not only those returning to campus but also students struggling with distance learning. Insurcan help protect others. Though students will still be unable to get the vaccine, if teachers who can safely get ing the health of instructors will allow for the vaccine do get it, it will increase the students to return to school and remain safety of those around them. Wearing a there with a lessened risk of contracting mask and social distancing will only do the coronavirus. so much in slowing down the spread but

Getting the vaccine would also send the vaccine is the main tool in putting a students back to school much quicker. stop to the pandemic. Most of the common concerns While some students haven’t had a huge While many people have no prob- about the vaccine have been disproven problem with school this year, there are lem with the vaccine, there are a good and health ofcials have repeatedly asmany students struggling, especially amount of people who have many con- sured the public that the vaccine is safe. students learning English. The number cerns. One of their biggest concerns is Those that can safely get it need to get of failing grades for students learning getting COVID-19 from the vaccine. This the vaccine so that this pandemic can English has increased by 15 percent this is something that has not been proven hopefully come to an end and students school year. Many students would bene- to be true. The vaccine does not contain can get the education they deserve. ft greatly if they returned to school and the live virus that makes people sick, so making the vaccine available to teachers there’s no chance of getting seriously would allow students to go back quicker sick from the vaccine. Instagram @nathalie61313