Torch was recognized as an All-American newspaper by the National Scholastic Press Association, also known as the NSPA, in its annual competition and critique service for Torch’s 2023-2024 edition. The All-American ranking is the highest ranking awarded by the NSPA critique service.
“I feel like we have a really good community with the staff, and everything really is a collaboration,” said Micah Shulman, the 2023-2024 Editor-in-Chief. “So, even on the byline, even though it says just one name, there’s so many other people that go into creating just one article, and so many ideas, opinions and perspectives that go into just making one article. So I feel like we’re different in that.”
Torch obtained 475 points out of a possible 510 and earned Marks of Distinction for exemplary work in “Coverage & Content,” “Visuals” and “Text.”
Shulman thinks the Torch staff is very dedicated to making sure the Torch is the best it can be, he said.
“Through the whole editing process, everyone is always trying to make sure everything is what it needs to be,” said Shulman. “[That] everything and every article is answered, that the news articles are especially informative and easy to read and that we’re covering important topics to students.”
According to Anna Schultes, instructional supervisor of the English Department, finding out that the Torch had received an All-American ranking was not surprising.
“I’m always tremendously impressed by the strong writing and critical thinking skills that students exhibit and the incredible hard work that they put into the production of the paper,” Schultes said.
Torch has earned two All-American rankings in the last three years and seven in the last 15 years.
“Well, I think the readers, our students, our staff, the community members who receive the paper, I think, can definitely be extremely proud of our school community, but also have faith in knowing that they are reading a highly credible news source,” said Schultes. “A news source that they can trust and a source that they know is being held to the highest standards.”
According to Shulman, the All-American recognition gives Torch extra credibility because it has been reviewed by an outside organization that evaluates high school newspapers across the country.
“I hope readers see it and want to share the Torch with their friends or their families and be like, ‘Our school newspaper got this cool recognition, you guys should go read it,’” Shulman said.