A Good Dose of Reality

Students Tour Albany Democrat Herald

As part of E3’s Partnership for Student Success program students from South Albany, West Albany and Albany Options Alternative high school recently visited the Albany Democrat Herald newspaper to learn about careers in the newspaper business.  They were captivated by the personal stories employees told about their career paths and, in one case, how dropping out of high school had been a costly mistake that is deeply regretted.

The visit started in the conference room at the newspaper where students heard long-time editor, Hasso Hering (pictured right), describe the business of the news media and why a free press and informed citizenry is so important to a democracy.

Hering took the students through a print copy of the Democrat Herald to show them how the news, business, sports, opinions, letters, display advertising and classified advertising all worked together and were all essential elements of the paper.  “It’s an interesting mix- we provide a service to our readers and our advertisers,” said Hering. He went onto describe the many different jobs at the paper including advertising sales reps, circulation people, reporters/writers, photographers, graphic layout artists, and accountants. 

Students Hear Dramatic Testimony

Print shop manager, Jordan Langley, (pictured left) described how he had dropped out of high school at age 15 because he was “bored with school.”  He talked about working 80 hour weeks at a fast food restaurant for minimum wage just to make ends meet and have enough money to party, and he finally realized what a “dead end" it was.  He told the students that if they wanted “any kind of a real life,” they needed to stay in school and graduate high school with a diploma.  “Don’t just get a GED,” said Jordan,“it isn’t the same thing as getting your diploma, and employers know it.  It took me ten years experience at an entry level job to move up because I didn’t have that diploma.”  He also warned students to think carefully about getting tattoos and body piercings, as he had.  “I thought they were pretty cool at first, but I know now it kept me from getting some jobs.  It gave me fewer choices…so think about it carefully before you do something like that.”  Jordan went on to talk about working for the newspaper and how important it was for him to have health benefits when his family needed it, and a place to go where he could do good work and be respected for his efforts.  “Do yourself a favor and stay in school” was his last charge to the group.

“Jordan’s presentation was an excellent example of how an employee’s personal story can help kids understand how their decisions and actions have consequences,” said Jane Marshall, program manager at West Albany high school. “Time and again I have seen students eyes opened up to the importance of their education.”

Now in its third year, the E3 program helping students who have been identified as “as risk” establish stronger personal relationships with educators and understand the importance of the hard and soft skills needed to be successful in the workplace.  “Students meet in small groups prior to employer site visits and talk about what it means to be an effective employee, about personal responsibility, appearance, expected behavior, and what employers are looking for in their applicants,” said Marshall. “What we’re really doing is showing these students that someone in the system cares about them…and the employers are showing them there is a path to success.”

(Advertising director, Kathy Turgeon, leads a group of students on a tour of the press shop and talks about different jobs and skills required to work at a newspaper.)

According to Marshall, most of the students who participated in the program have either graduated high school or are still in school working toward their degree.  “I can see that it works,” said Marshall.  “I’ve got students coming back to see me after they graduate just to keep in touch. I know we’ve made a personal connection.”

Employers have jumped into the E3 program in a big way. “The positive response from our business community clearly demonstrates the importance area employers place on soft skills development,” said Steve Kunke, assistant superintendent for the Greater Albany School District. “These businesses are helping spread an even more important message to students: stay in school and graduate!”

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