Inside the Andalusian

What It’s Like to Be Part of Maclay’s Newspaper

Photo by Ethan Woodring / Maclay Andalusian

Being in the Andalusian doesn’t mean just sitting at a desk. Students pitch ideas, write articles, conduct interviews, edit, design layouts and prepare content to be seen across campus.

The Andalusian, Maclay Upper School’s student-run newspaper, is a community voice. Combining both the class and extracurricular experience, it gives students the chance to be journalists, photographers, designers and leaders, while collaborating to produce content that informs, educates, entertains and represents the school community. With applications now open, interested students should get involved!

“I joined the Andalusian because I wanted to be more involved in the Maclay community and loved taking pictures so I wanted to pursue that further,” photographer Kayleigh Mitchell said.

That sense of involvement is central to what the newspaper offers. Students can begin as staff writers, sports writers or photographers, each role contributing to a variety of  beats including news, features, opinions, briefs, entertainment, quizzes, listicles and galleries. The Andalusian gives members the unique opportunity to explore any topics that matter to them.

“People can write about anything,” staff writer Emeri Wisotsky said. “You can see your results [because] everyone has [print] around campus so that’s really fun. I also learned a lot about the way I work and write.”

Behind each published article is a structured process. Every two weeks there’s a “budget,” where students give ideas and sign up for topics. The first week is for writing full-length articles, which go through first-round edits and Editor-In-Chief (EIC) review before publication. The second week focuses on shorter news pieces called briefs, often done in 48 hours. Once the process is complete, the Online EIC publishes articles to maclayandalusian.com

For new members, the transition into The Andalusian is designed to be manageable. Before school, members have a summer mentor to answer questions and help with basics of journalism. There are also writing guides, checklists and clear expectations to assist new members once the process starts and the first two weeks of class are set aside for learning. 

The cycle provides real-world experience, requiring students to manage deadlines, conduct research, perform interviews and adapt quickly. Writers reach out to faculty and students, attend events and learn how to ask applicable questions, building communication and problem-solving skills along the way. 

“If you have a passion for sports I’d definitely [be a sports writer],” Head Sports Editor Evan Starr said. “It will help you later on [professionally].”

Members also learn to write using the Associated Press (AP) Style guide, and articles go through multiple rounds of edits for structure, flow, grammar and style. Communication and leadership plays a key role here, as students collaborate on edits, offer feedback and develop skills for leadership positions.

Each year, the Andalusian releases multiple print magazines, with plans to expand to six issues next year. The Print EIC picks a theme and groups articles that best showcase Maclay’s student voices. The design team then uses Adobe InDesign to craft pages with almost full creative freedom to incorporate photos, graphics and pull quotes to create beautiful visuals.

“Someone who wants to write and get involved with the school and exercise their creativity should join,” Print Editor-In-Chief Blair Bayliss said “They can make friends and get involved also.”

Students also gain experience in advertising and promotion. Members reach out to local businesses and professionals to secure ads to fund the print magazine, while the social media manager, a new role, works to expand the publication’s reach online. These responsibilities allow business and marketing experience in journalism.

As students continue in the Andalusian, they can take on leadership roles such as first-round editors, managing editor and EICS. These positions involve guiding peers, making editorial decisions and, in the case of EICs, running the class with the support of advisor Ms. Julia Croston. The experience builds confidence and leadership skills that extend beyond high school. 

The Andalusian is a platform for students of all interests to collaborate and grow. It’s not just documentation, but also exploring diverse topics, expressing opinions, using creativity and gaining real world experience. Students improve their writing and build confidence in many aspects, all while making friends and connecting with peers they might not meet otherwise. If this sounds like it’s meant for you, make sure to apply and join the best group of people.