Hello and welcome to ‘The Oystercatcher’, the newspaper for St. Andrew’s and St. Bride’s High School that is run by students, for students. Over the past three years it has been a privilege to work with the fantastic people that make up this group and to experience first hand the hard work, dedication and talent that allows this newspaper to flourish year after year. Without these people this newspaper wouldn’t exist. Any future success under my leadership is owed to them, and the amazing work they do.
As Editor-In-Chief my role is not to take credit or seek glory from my role, but to deliver a clear and unbiased truth in line with both my personal and journalistic integrities, and to ensure my team does the same. I believe this newspaper has cultivated a wealth of open-minded, forward thinking and honest young people with immense integrity who consistently produce articles based on facts and truth. This is the core of quality journalism.
This newspaper provides an invaluable thing: access to the voice of the youth. The world is finally acknowledging how valuable young people are, and that we aren’t all disinterested and disconnected from the issues of the day. So many of us are engaged and informed individuals who give a new perspective on hot button matters, both old and new. We are the people who must face the consequences of decisions made today. Politicians are debating the state of our futures and we need to have a say. As Editor-In-Chief, I want our newspaper to be a platform for the opinions, beliefs and talents of the young people in our community, recognising the unique insights they provide into both local and global issues.
I also want to emphasise our place as part of the local community. As a school newspaper we are proudly embedded into the wonderful school community of St. Andrew’s and St. Bride’s High School, and frequently report on the multitude of events within the school. This has been a fantastic way to celebrate the great people we are lucky enough to have with us, and the amazing work they do both for the students and for a number of charitable causes. Outside of this though, we are also proud to be a part of the wider East Kilbride community. From its onset, this newspaper has shone a light on both local successes and local issues, providing insight and information on both sides. We plan to expand upon that and have made steps to ensure that local news is a big focus in the coming year.
Finally, my ultimate goal for my time as Editor-In-Chief is to leave something behind. ‘The Oystercatcher’ provides an unprecedented opportunity for our students to develop important employment skills outside the classroom, and I want to ensure this is recognised and supported. I want to help younger students develop a wide range of skills which they can take with them into the world beyond high school.
It is my fervent hope that anyone reading our articles enjoys a sense of even a fraction of the joy, acceptance, intellectual stimulation and pride I have experienced through being part of the amazing team that makes ‘The Oystercatcher’ what it is today.
Yours Sincerely,
Eleanor Service
Editor-In-Chief
