he Editor-in-Chief of Endeavor Yearbook, Gracie Whitworth, is JEA’s Kentucky Journalist of the Year.
After many dedicated years spent working hard to improve her staff and make her class a positive working environment, Whitworth’s work has earned it’s well-deserved appreciation.
Each year, JEA gives high school journalists the opportunity to enter their portfolio in the journalist of the year contest. JEA looks for creativity in a wide range of forms. Whether it’s photography, writing, design, or leadership related, Whitworth’s journalistic skills caught the attention of JEA.
“I was really excited because I didn’t think a yearbook person could win journalist of the year. So I really didn’t think I even had a chance…I felt really accomplished because I had just spent so much time working really hard,” Whitworth said. The hard work payed off, despite the little expectations Whitworth had for winning. “Whenever we go to conventions and stuff, I don’t feel like I belong there. Because a lot of it’s not really directed towards yearbook people. It’s a big step for your book people,” Whitworth said. Having been to multiple journalism conventions, Whitworth has taken note on the skills she can obtain journalistically and communicatively through many keynote speakers.
The creation of the yearbook this year has run smoothly with Whitworth in charge, meaning there was a lot of evidence attached to her portfolio. “I attached the style guide that I built for the yearbook into it, and showed examples of how my staff followed the guide. And I think that helped me stand out and made me feel proud. And then also I included a lot of pictures of me actually up in teaching and stuff, which made me feel like it really showed my journey as a journalist,” Whitworth said. Being a journalist of the year takes extreme dedication and devotion to the journalism program. It takes leadership, a balance of accomplishment and failure, and years of enhancing your creative palette. “You need to be dedicated if you want to have this kind of title because everyone I’ve seen so far when this title I guess it’s been kind of a lot like a big part of their lives,” Whitworth said.
The path of journalism itself, has opened up so many doors for Whitworth besides Journalist of the Year. “It’s just a cool experience, and joining the pathway has opened up so many opportunities for me, and I’ve met so many cool people and made so many connections,” Whitworth said.
