Do you love to write? Take photos? Make cute Canva posters? Are you passionate about what’s happening at Boston Latin School and the world around you? And finally: Do you love Insomnia Cookies? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the Argo is the place for you!
The Argo is the perfect club for anyone who has ever felt constrained by traditional, classroom-based writing. At the Argo, you won’t be restricted to analytical essays; the Argo has a place for passionate op-eds, album reviews, hot takes in the realm of sports and more. “I liked to follow current events and news about politics,” Kevin Zhong, a former Head News Editor, reflects. “The Argo [was] a good way for me to combine my passions of politics, current events and writing.”
The Argo is also one of the most powerful platforms for students to share their voice. Your words, photos and designs will be seen by the entire BLS community, giving you the power to shape local dialogue and decisions.
Don’t worry about having all the technical stuff down! We will teach you the rules of grammar — no Oxford commas, the skills of argumentation — this is Forum, after all — and how to best articulate your points in a concise yet persuasive manner: all of which are essential life skills that our Copy section specializes in. The only thing you need to bring is a willingness to learn. “None of us come in with any journalism experience,” Joanna Lin ‘24, former Editor-in-Chief explains, “You don’t need to come in with all of these set journalistic skills: those can be taught and developed. Once you come with that mindset, then the Argo becomes a place that’s not for a mold of people but for a lot of different skill sets and backgrounds.”
One important skill of journalism and life that you will learn in the Argo is how to conduct meaningful interviews with students, teachers and administrators from all walks of life. Zhong recalls the excitement of interviewing former Head of School Rachel Skerritt, “I was obviously nervous; it was only the second article I had written, and I was already interviewing the Head of School. She was really nice and supportive [and] it didn’t feel intimidating. It felt like, ‘Oh yeah, she wanted to get to know me and get to know me as a writer, and help me in my article,’ […] and that article was published on the front page of the January 2020 issue!”
Furthermore, the Argo isn’t just for writers. Jenny Chen ‘24, another former editor-in-chief, notes, “Production is just as much a part of the newspaper as the writing sections are.” These sections — Photo, Layout and Copy — explore alternative aspects of journalism. In Photo, you will be on the front lines, capturing exciting moments of Boston Latin School and citywide events. In Layout, graphic design lovers are invited to physically bring the newspaper together.
All of this may seem intimidating, but Chen advises, “Don’t be afraid if you’re starting out your Argo journey. Everyone will find their own place, and that place might not necessarily be where you already have friends, but I guarantee you’ll make a whole bunch of new friends in the process.”
This is perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Argo. From laughing with a co-editor over a messy interview to eating dozens of half-melted ice cream sandwiches during Production Week, working at this paper will create loads of memories and a close-knit network of truly awesome friends. Mary Bosch ‘23, a former Photo Editor and A&E writer, remembers how fun Valentine’s Day carnation deliveries were, “I snapped the end of the flower off and I put it in my mouth, and I started making people tango with me. I miss having fun with all my friends.”
We want you to be a part of this community. So join us! Our first workshops of the year will take place on October 22 and October 23 in Room 207. See you there!
