'Bulldog Press' continues its tradition of excellence

Courtesy photo/Chris Sloan

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The staff of the 'Bulldog Press' put out an award-winning newspaper this year and also created a magazine.

SALT LAKE CITY — Among some of the highlights for Judge Memorial Catholic High School’s Bulldog Press is being named High School Newspaper of the Year for the third year in a row by the Utah Press Association, having two contributors receive scholarships from the Salt Lake Tribune, and the launch of the Bulldog Press magazine.

Judge Memorial has had a newspaper since its beginning; in 1980 the publication was named the Bulldog Press. Since that time the newspaper has won numerous awards, including top honors from the Salt Lake Tribune, the Utah Press Association, and the Utah Journalism Educators Association.

"It’s been amazing to see (Bulldog Press advisor) Chris Sloan; how he works with the students he mentors them so well," said Elaine Peterson, who also is an advisor to the newspaper and English teacher at Judge. "When the students find a story that they like, they just rolled with it."

The students come up with their own ideas about what to write, do the research "and that’s so fantastic," said Peterson.

The paper has been recognized nationally as well, most notably by the National Scholastic Press Association, which four times has awarded the Bulldog Press "Best of Show" at their national convention.

"I have really talented students and, with the support of Judge administration, they are allowed to do really good things," said Sloan, who also teaches AP composition and English, digital photography and new media.

The Bulldog Press staff this year is comprised of 19 students.

"They are very active in the school community but they are also good writers. They want to do their job and do it well they are highly motivated," Sloan said. "They represent a real range of views."

They students also work in multimedia, including editing videos and learning to tell good stories in different media, which will prepare them for a future in journalism and keeps them with the technological changes in the world.

"Journalism is changing; it’s not just print," said Sloan.

The Bulldog Press magazine was started this year at the suggestion of student Emily Andrews. The magazine publishes monthly and is available online.

"It’s been great since the students can get it online or on their iPad," Sloan said.

The magazine’s editors, Emily Andrews and Matt Kirkegaad, are the two students awarded by the Salt Lake Tribune with a scholarship for their journalism studies at the University of Utah.

"He is a really good editorial writer and she is really good at everything, so that’s why the Tribune awarded them," said Sloan.

The Bulldog Press staff members this year were Emily Andrews, editor in chief; Jake Brugger, Erin Dugan, Jackson Elizondo, Michael I. Greenberg, Michael Greenberg, Mo Haley, Michael Junkins, Matt Kirkegaard, Alex Kreeser, Annie Loader, Sabiha Masud, Anthony Fratto Oyler, Emerson Pratt, Choe Ropner, Stevie Strehl, Brian Wilhard, Jake Winter, Lexy Wright.