MHS News Editor: ‘Tower can connect us all.’
The Tower
The Tower’s first-ever News Editor didn’t become passionate about journalism until … She saw her name in print.
Guadalupe Enriquez has always had a passion for writing, and as an Honor Roll student, she has excelled in many of her classes at Manteca High. In her four years on campus, there just hasn’t been an opportunity to see student work published in a public space like The Manteca Bulletin, a daily newspaper delivered to Manteca, Lathrop and Ripon.
“It’s crucial to have a publication, like The Tower, to chronicle the people, the events and cultural trends, because without it no one knows what’s happening around campus. It’s significant for us to be aware of what’s happening. It’s necessary for us to inform others about events that are around campus that may affect them.”
That changed when Journalism was brought back in the fall. Enriquez enrolled in the elective being offered by a teacher new to campus (James Burns), and that passion for writing and storytelling found a home. She was among the most published student reporters during the fall term with a variety of pieces, including coverage of events like STEAM Night and Dia de los Muertos, former principal Frank Gonzales’ departure for a new job at the district office, a Q&A with theatre teacher Dawn Coyan, and a feature on Buff Bistro, a café run by the school’s special-needs students.
With every news cycle, the top stories on campus would be printed in The Manteca Bulletin under The Tower masthead. Enriquez and her peers got to see their writing, photography and graphics displayed on prominent pages in the newspaper, including A-1 and colored pages. In total, Manteca High’s Journalism class was featured in four editions of the Bulletin. No other campus in the Manteca Unified School District was featured as much.
“I didn’t become passionate about Journalism until my first article was published,” she said, “and that’s mainly because I didn’t think I could actually participate in something and have it published. Taking Journalism has been an amazing opportunity for me and given me so much confidence and experience.”
That confidence will serve Enriquez well during the spring term.
HEAD OF THE TABLE
Manteca High senior Guadalupe Enriquez is the first-ever News Editor for The Tower, the school’s digital newspaper.
She has been named the News Editor for The Tower, Manteca High’s brand-new digital student newspaper. The Tower can be accessed at www.MHSTheTower.com and is advised by Journalism instructor James Burns. The site was created by web designer and marketing specialist Ambra Jo Pinol, whose father Bill served as an administrator at Manteca High for many years. The Tower was introduced to the public in December 2022.
Enriquez is excited about what The Tower can become.
“I hope The Tower represents an outlet for students of Manteca High and their voices,” she said, “That The Tower becomes a channel for trustworthy stories happening on campus. Overall, students can count on The Tower when it comes to telling stories that concern and affect them.”
Her goal as News Editor is to cover stories that directly impact the student body. The students, she says, are the newspaper’s main stakeholders and as such, the student newspaper’s chief objective is to reflect their voice and their concerns.
Enriquez also hopes to pour the foundation for future classes.
“It’s crucial to have a publication, like The Tower, to chronicle the people, the events and cultural trends, because without it no one knows what’s happening around campus,” she said. “It’s significant for us to be aware of what’s happening. It’s necessary for us to inform others about events that are around campus that may affect them.
“And often, news can be something someone might find entertaining so what better than reporting about events around them. I trust that The Tower can connect us all.”