Students Ditch Old School, Go Cutting Edge

Lincoln High students launch new online news service

Local students are giving a voice to their community in a first-of-its kind website -- voicesoflincoln.com.

Lincoln High School's new online news service has been in the works for months. It launched two weeks ago.

Funded by the San Diego Foundation, the online news service is cutting edge.

"We're the first high school in the San Diego Unified School Dist. to have an online news website," Lincoln High School journalism teacher Dan Camacho said.

In a high tech classroom turned newsroom, led by the journalism teacher, 11 students are writing stories and snapping pictures on the issues that matter to them.

"It's been a real learning experience," Editor in Chief Sonja Banks said. "I hope to act kind of like a microphone and have people here people get their voices out."

Lincoln High School students used to produce "The Buzz" but this year they've stopped printing the paper and all of their stories are published solely online.

Inspired in part by VoiceofSanDiego.org, the site features news, advice, a place for alumni to chime in and video profiles of people making a difference in the community -- segments produced by students like Enrique Garcia, who likes the creative control.

"What we want to do is find what is important as well as entertaining and put it out there," Garcia said.

A concept that is likely to catch on with other students.

"I'm really excited to see an inner city school excel in journalism and be able to kind of pave the way for other schools to come," Camacho said.

A number of volunteers from a variety of local news organizations helped the students launch the site -- including several staff members at NBC San Diego.

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