CFC uploads student work to website

by Taylor Cerone and Marquis Whitted

After 10 years of publishing a print edition of the “Blue Devil’s Advocate,” the Center for Communications is going digital with its newspaper. 

VarinaBDA.com features student work and allows more students, staff and community members to access stories.

Center for Communications chairman and teacher Beverley Lanier said the online edition of the paper is interactive and useful.

“Since we only publish the newspaper five times a year, this can be updated more frequently and updated with material that doesn’t fit in the paper,” Ms. Lanier said.

English and communications teacher Lindsey Martin and information technology resource teacher Mike Dunavant combined their efforts to create VarinaBDA.com.

Mr. Dunavant used WordPress to create the website.  He said putting the paper online was a great idea and could serve as an example for other county schools.

“It’s a great step in the right direction,” Mr. Dunavant said.  “New media is where students are taking their message.”

Mrs. Martin helped design the website and added content.

“I think it’s important in this age of media conversion to create an online presence for our school newspaper,” Mrs. Martin said.

The online edition of the newspaper features a multimedia section and previously unpublished student stories. It also includes news, features, sports, columns, editorials and reviews from the print edition.

“Having the paper online gives us the opportunity to put more writers out there,” senior editor Danielle Childress said.

Although the print edition of the newspaper is available only to students who purchase a yearbook, anyone can access the website.

Students are using the site for up-to-date information about campus activities.  Sophomore Timi’sha Hobson said the technology is convenient, and she likes the added content that the website makes possible.

“I like the multimedia section, because it shows pictures of big events happening at Varina,” Timi’sha said.

 Sophomore journalist Michael Props is excited to see his writing posted for more people to see.

“It feels like I’m not just writing for the school.  I’m doing it for everyone that visits the website,” Michael said.