Students From SMS Take Trip To E.O.

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October 29, 2014, the day that the Sunridge Middle School's publication's class took a fieldtrip to the East Oregonian (E.O.). It was around 1:00 pm, as a bus pulled up with a group of students. They walked to the front doors of E.O where they met with the main editor, Daniel. The students walked quietly into the front office where they began their E.O. tour.

“That is the first amendment”, said Daniel, while pointing to the wall where big fancy lettering read “Congress Shall Make No Law Respecting an Establishment of Religion, or Prohibiting the Free Exercise Thereof; or Abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press; or the Right of the People Peaceably to Assemble, and To Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.” (American Library Association). The students looked up at the big print and began taking pictures. “And that is the trophy in which we put the names of the Pendleton Round-Up winners posted on the side, and Trevor Brazile is posted three times from the past three years he has won,” Daniel states. The students took turns gathering around the award examining it and taking pictures. “Now we are going to head down this hallway to the right.” They all began walking down the hall inspecting the little photos on the walls, and paying close attention to everything Daniel was saying. “This is where all of the advertisements for the newspapers are created.” The students observed the area where the advertisement makers were working and continued walking. At the end of the hallway there was a huge room with computers, desks and other things. “And lastly this where all the reporters type their articles and things like that.” He held his hand out to where there were people sitting at desk signaling that those were the reporters. They smiled at the students waving and the students waved back.

“Now we will go into that room right over there,” Daniel pointed to a door that the students began gathering into. This is where the students would ask questions and Daniel, the editor, E.J., the photographer, and Tim, one of the few reporters, would answer their questions and tell about their job. There were four rows of tables. The students began sitting in the seats provided for them. E.J., Daniel, and Tim told about their jobs and how to be a successful writer and photographer. 
The students seemed most interested in the photograph that E.J. was answering questions about. Photography is a very important roll in the student publication's class because they have a lot of picture taking for the school yearbook. E.J. explained how to take a good picture, “It is very important to follow the rules of thirds, the rules of thirds is focusing on every part of the picture, and making sure every thirds of the picture stands out. Taking pictures from different angles makes a picture good as well. So don’t be afraid to get down and take pictures from different angles even if you are crawling on the ground” E.J. explains. 
“Yes, don’t be afraid, just throw yourself out there”, Tim added. After talking to the kids for a little while longer it was almost time for the tour to end. The students walked into a big room with machines and tons of paper. The elderly man explained and told the students how everything works, and gave facts about all of the machines. This concluded the students’ tour. After the tour was over, as some of the students walked to the bus, I asked them what they thought about the tour. They replied saying, “It was very fun and informational.” They said that the tour helped them with their writing and photography skills. They hopped onto the bus across the street and headed back to their school to end the long day of October 29, 2014.