OPINION WRITING
Opinion pieces allow me to explore and comment on topics I am passionate about. They are an atypical section in journalism because opinion articles are backed up by research, personal experiences, and outlooks from the author rather than straight facts and quotes from professionals.
EDITORIAL: WE NEED TO STOP IDOLIZING CRIMINALS
My first editorial of my senior year focused on how society, in the age of mass-media, hyperfixates on unimportant aspects of the news such as incarcerated people with high-press cases. Recent examples include Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who has received significant media attention for assisting in the murder of her mother due to years of abuse and recently was released from prison. Her case catapulted her into becoming a pop culture star, with media following her around publicizing her life as if she were a more organic or "deserved" celebrity. Such press on the wrong parts of the world negatively impacts more pressing issues like current wars and climate change.
SATIRE: THE SOLUTION TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS
Conveniently coming out in late December, I used this issue of our Highlander newsmagazine to highlight the unrealistic expectations people place on themselves under the guise of them being positive "resolutions." The only way to achieve dreams is to either set realistic ones or spend all your time on one unrealistic one. It is tough to hear, but nothing is worse than putting yourself down for failing to achieve something you didn't think you could in the first place.
EDITORIAL: TIKTOK BAN IMPINGES FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
My second editorial of my junior year focused on the hot-topic of TikTok -- specifically how it represents U.S. prejudice against Chinese-based companies. In this article, I touched on the parallels between the introduced TikTok ban and the Grindr ban from a few years prior. In both instances, the U.S. House cited cybersecurity concerns. However, I noticed concerns about data privacy were limited to social apps as Temu has far more allegations of credit card fraud and association with the black market with no ban in sight. Concerningly, banning TikTok could set a risky precedent for the government to further encroach upon rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.
SATIRE: THE UPPER-MIDDLE CLASS IS OUR ONLY HOPE
I was deeply inspired to write this satirical piece after the Internet went wild over Taylor Swift's leaked flight logs amid the current climate crisis. While the number of private flights was appalling to someone who flies economy on 14+ hour plane rides, my research demonstrated that Ms. Popstar isn't even a top carbon contributor. In this opinion article, I wanted to highlight the heavy inequality of global warming as the richest contribute the most and see the least impact. And don't even start with carbon credits -- I could talk your ear off about those.
EDITORIAL: COLLEGE IS NOT THE ONLY OPTION
As a part of the editorial staff for Scot Scoop, I write two editorials per year on a topic I want to discuss. After receiving approval from the other editors, I wrote this piece in lieu of forthcoming college applications and decisions. It is important to me that all students know their options and despite the education-heavy Bay Area, college is a mere speck in the game of life and does not define the rest of your life. However, living your young years for someone else's dream may be the deciding factor of your future.
OPINION: GUN CONTROL LAWS ARE CENTERED ON THE WRONG PROBLEM
Part of what fuels my journalistic urge is learning more about why something is the way it is. I enjoy discovering deeper connections, which I did with this piece. I wrote this article after researching the correlation between high gun violence areas in the US and factors like homelessness, poverty, and education. I wanted to demonstrate to readers that gun violence is not a one-cause, one-effect issue, though many mass protests focus on a single cause as the root of the systemic problem. If I could edit one thing about this article, I would add a call-to-action and include a named solution rather than merely pinpointing a more significant issue.