Applied Learning in the News
Written By Daisy Willis
In the real world, being a journalist can be a dangerous, even a life-threatening job. These daring people risk their lives traveling the world and working to to bring the people the real news. Luckily, here at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, no one has to risk their lives to report on the real news on campus. Ke Kalahea, the student-run newspaper that represents the UHH student body, is a collection of hard-working students dedicated to telling stories, promoting classes, clubs, and organizations, and even incorporating the community through ads and featured stories. A new issue of the newspaper is distributed around campus biweekly, each one featuring new and exciting stories.
As much fun as it is to read Ke Kalahea, it is even more fun (and educational) to be one of the lucky students who are apart of putting the magazine together. Morgan Tate a junior and an Environmental Science and Chemistry Health double major, is the editor for the Arts and Community section of Ke Kalahea. She is in charge of not only writing two articles for every publication, but also for editing all of the pieces that will be put into her section (Arts and Community) of the newspaper.
Two recent issues of Ke Kalahea. Photo taken by ALEX Intern Reporter, Daisy Willis.
Although she has been on staff for only one semester, during that time she has grown exponentially as a student and as a person. “Working in Ke Kalahea”, said Tate “helps students improve their time management skills. It's difficult to juggle a job where the work is done on your own time while being a full-time student, but once you manage that balance, you create a mindset that will benefit you now and for the rest of your life. Also, because I'm an editor, I am gaining leadership skills that help me take initiative to excel in my job as well as in my classes. Through Ke Kalahea, I stretch my horizons and learn new things with every person I interview and each subject I write about. It is definitely helping me become a better student and, overall, a better person.”
All of the positions in Ke Kalahea are stipend positions, which means students get paid at the end of every semester for the work they put in. Although money tends to be a great motivator, being apart of Ke Kalahea is about more than a paycheck. Every student has a chance to broaden their horizons and challenge the skills they learn in the classroom by applying them to a real-life publication. As Morgan so eloquently said “Joining a club or getting a job while studying may seem daunting at first, but when I went out and joined a team or volunteered for an event, I found myself more invested in all aspects of my life. I became motivated in my studies, more physically active and I made close friends. Partaking in extracurricular activities opens your mind to new people, fresh ideas and a passion to live.”
Morgan Tate working at her desk in the Ke Kalahea Office. Photo provided by Morgan Tate.
If you would like a taste of the excitement in Ke Kalahea, they are currently accepting applications for the upcoming school year! You can visit their office on the second floor of Campus Center right next to Lava Landing to pick up an application. Also, be sure to visit their website, which features the current and past editions of Ke Kalahea.
