Ensuring sunshine for the next generation

This week, The Sheridan Press celebrated National Newspaper Week in many ways, and the staff would like to share a few of those with you, and encourage the public to continue engaging with The Sheridan Press.

2024 marks the 84th celebration of National Newspaper Week.

Every journalist has a story about what led them to the profession, National Newspaper Week Chair and Kansas Press Association Executive Director Emily Bradbury wrote for the 2024 celebration. Maybe it was the thrill of chasing a breaking news story, the joy of telling the untold tales of our community or the drive to hold the powerful accountable. These are the stories that define us, inspire us and keep us committed to the work we do every day, Bradbury said.

So, our newsroom took pen to ink — or fingers to keyboards, moreso — and shared their "why." You can see those in the opinion section in print and online this weekend. They're all unique and yet have a consistent string that ties back to community, and specifically the Sheridan community.

Next, The Press participated — and will continue to participate — in Manufacturing Month with the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce. We're eager to invite you to The Sheridan Press office at 144 E. Grinnell Plaza and Oct. 18 and 30 for our final tours.

Last, but absolutely not least, The Press partnered with Sheridan County School District 2 on two big projects: real-life integration and Ads by Kids.

Real-life integration started before National Newspaper Week and will continue throughout the yePress photojournalist Clint Wood visited Sheridan High School's newspaper class and taught photojournalism skills in September.

Government reporter Joseph Beaudet visited John C. Schiffer Collaborative School's government class Wednesday.

Press newsroom staff will engage with Sheridan Junior High School English students later this month to kick off the school's informational writing unit. Those engagements allow students to identify and connect with real-life applications of what they're learning, and they also see journalism remains a respected and viable career option.

Flip through the rest of your physical pages, or your e-edition, or click through our website — however you like consuming The Press best — and check out the Ads by Kids section. We partnered with Sheridan County School District 2 elementary students to pilot a program that connects students with local advertisers, and they design advertisements for those businesses.

The businesses and teachers were both elated about the project, and after the great success of our pilot year, plan to engage all three school districts for the 2025 iteration of the project.

The Press staff is eager to continue collaborations with the youth in our community to encourage and inspire the next generation to engage in democracy by staying informed through trusted journalism.ar.