From School Halls To Headlines, Local Student Pubs To Watch
get the latest scoop from these Chippewa Valley high schools and colleges, where student journalists share news stories from inside and outside the school walls
While many reporters in the Chippewa Valley saw their first bylines at the region’s broadcast stations and print hubs – covering arts and culture, breaking news, sports, crime and more – some of us (myself included) got our actual start writing for a high school newspaper.
Working on The Echo newspaper in St. Louis Park, Minn., marked a pivotal point which shaped my high school years and my professional vocation today. In that student-led space (thanks to the unwavering guidance of our teacher and mentor, Lori Keekley) we grasped the fundamentals of AP style, learned to measure print designs in picas and yes, transcribed our interviews by hand.
Yet, my absolute favorite aspect was the whirlwind of camaraderie (and chaos) during those late night deadlines, when the entire staff came together to send out each issue; no matter how late into the night, we always left together as one, so no one would be left behind.
With all that said, there’s surely a special place in our hearts for the student-led Chippewa Valley high school and university outlets that instill the core values of reporting – from sharing stories that otherwise would go untold, maintaining accuracy and holding those in power accountable.
Here's a sampling of the Chippewa Valley's local high school and college publications to add to your reading list:
Eau Claire Memorial High School - The Talon
Eau Claire Memorial High School’s official student newspaper, The Talon, shares the latest news and opinions, as told by student reporters. Online, its coverage spans sports, opinions, arts and news (from local to global topics); a miscellaneous section of the publication online, shares reviews and topics with a broader scope than the Chippewa Valley alone.
Our tip – don’t miss reporter Annie Carlson’s review of the Twilight saga; her heartfelt and somewhat tongue-in-cheek take on the cinematic adaptation’s reception culturally, is a genuine page-turner that keeps readers hooked from one graf to the next.
Read more student reporting from The Talon, online at memorialtalon.com.
Menomonie High School - The Mustang Messenger
Across its digital platform – which began in 2023 thanks to co-founders Grace Edenborg and Megan Hansen – The Mustang Messenger intends to “provide the students of Menomonie High School with news and information about what is happening both in their school and in the world.” Among its dozens of stories on news, arts and entertainment, or clubs and organizations, The Mustang Messenger also publishes its own events calendars for arts and sports-related happenings.
Read more student happenings from The Mustang Messenger, online at mustangmessenger.org.
Chippewa Falls Senior High School - Cardinal TV
A few years back, a media class at Chippewa Falls Senior High School began a new multimedia journalism venture: Cardinal TV. Today, the outlet gives students hands-on experience with the production of both print and digital media. In this long-form content, a crew of rotating students embrace their authentic selves both in front of the camera and behind the scenes; broadcasts share lighthearted and important moments that resonate with students' peers during the school year. Plus, the broadcast is packed with plenty of pop culture nods to keep viewers laughing (or perhaps wondering if they’ve finally aged out of "the loop").
Watch existing episodes of Cardinal TV, online via YouTube.
Regis Catholic High School - The Rambler Report
While not entirely student-run, The Rambler Report has long been Regis Catholic Schools' magazine for families and alumni. The publication is printed three times a year during the academic term and often covers topics from faculty and staff awards, historical deep dives on the foundations of the Eau Claire area school, profiles on graduating seniors and more.
See previous issues of The Rambler Report, online at regiscatholicschools.com.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire - The Spectator
What began as a weekly tabloid in 1923 has grown into a bi-weekly, student-led publication at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Spectator publishes 11 editions per semester, available to read in print and online for free. Its coverage spans breaking news on campus, arts and life, opinions and satire columns. (For sake of transparency, this is where I reveal my former role as an editor on the UW-Eau Claire campus newspaper.) The Spectator is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and has received many accolades – from multimedia photo to breaking news coverage awards – from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.
If you are into video games, look back on previous editions of the "Quarter Muncher" column – yes, you read that right! Its writers share the hot goss on nostalgic to brand-new games, plus best practices for how to beat them.
Read ongoing work from of The Spectator, online at spectatornews.com.
University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic - The Stoutonia
The inaugural issue of University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic's newspaper, The Stoutonia, was published in 1915. Over a century later, the publication continues to be student-led with faculty advisers in the communications department on-campus. While the rate of frequency of publication has ebbed and flowed over time, nearly all modern copies of the The Stoutonia feature a student-designed visual to represent themes stories within each issue. Print copies are available in person at the university, throughout the academic school year.
"One of Stoutonia’s main goals is to feature student work and we’d be more than happy to put your hard work in front of a wider audience," its website reads. "We’d especially love to feature opinion articles, satire articles, photography featuring different places around campus and original comics (or) comic strips."
View a complete archive of The Stoutonia through the UW-Stout Polytechnic archives, or access current-day stories from students online at stoutonia.com.
We’d love to hear about the local news outlet where you are getting your start; send us your student-led publication we might have missed, via email at editorial@volumeone.org.