GLENWOOD SPRINGS — The Glenwood Springs High School Brimstone may be a small student newspaper, but the publication has a voice that can be heard throughout Glenwood Springs.

The Brimstone, in its 41st year of publication, has a long-standing history at the school. Beside neighboring Roaring Fork High School’s Rampage publication, the Brimstone is one of the few remaining student-run newspapers in the Roaring Fork and Grand Valleys. The Brimstone has grown into a 16-page monthly publication distributing 500 copies within the halls of GSHS, as well as being circulated to Glenwood residents as an insert in the Post Independent.

“It’s changed our audience and it’s made it more real for the students,” said GSHS
English teacher and Brimstone advisor, Laura Hardman.

The growing circulation spreads the voice of this generation into the living rooms of
the community that’s raised them. It makes Hardman smile, too.

“I like that it’s real,” Hardman said. “(The students) get to see the product that they’ve
produced and they get a reaction from it.”

Hardman’s received compliments from neighbors about the Brimstone and the work
the students have put into it. The publication is completely assembled by students,
from scratching story ideas on a notepad to selling advertising space to pay for
printing costs. Hardman is there to lead the way when direction, or inspiration, is
scarce. Mostly, it’s the students.

“There’s a lot more involved putting it together than I first thought,” said Brimstone
assistant editor, Lyndsey Wesson.

Wesson and Brimstone editor Meghan Moriarty laid out pages for the April issue on
the computer, the Beatles softly playing in the background.

“It’s more than just writing,” Wesson said. “And you learn so much in this class.”

Hardman agreed that the class teaches more than just writing and interviewing skills. It teaches valuable life and business skills like self confidence, independent work
habits, teamwork, how to take constructive criticism, critical thinking, and most
importantly — how to meet deadlines. All skills that will help develop the students
and prepare them for everyday situations down the road.

“It’s like we’re our own organization,” Moriarty said. “We’re learning to work as a part
of a team and that what you do affects the others on the staff.”

Mornings at the Brimstone closely reflect the atmosphere of a real newsroom. It
begins with panic.

“Has anyone seen the issue of the paper today?” Hardman asked to her journalism 2
class Thursday morning.

But none had seen the latest, March issue, which was to be stocked at all
newsstands around the school. A glitch in distribution turned into another lesson
learned on the reality of business and the severity of breakdown. But in the end, the
paper will still be delivered.

“It’s different than any other class,” Moriarty said. “It’s flexible enough so you can work
to your own pace, and it allows you to be creative and express yourself.”

Hardman instructs two levels of journalism at GSHS. Journalism 1 is a year-long
elective that’s a prerequisite for Journalism 2, which focuses on the actual production
of the paper. The whole system is project-based learning in action, the future of the
press corps in training.

But just finding students to fill both classes has proven difficult for Hardman in recent
years.

“It’s frustrating. I have a lot of students that come to me who are so excited to take the
class, but I never see them again,” Hardman said. “I have to go and actively seek
students for the class.”

However, she has no complaints about her small, very-capable staff.

“I tend to get students that are passionate about writing,” Hardman said. “This class has a lot of English content but it is counted as a communication credit at the college
level. Fewer students sign up for it because of that and that’s sad.”

Hardman’s had at least one graduating senior interested in pursuing a journalism
degree in college in her six years of teaching at GSHS, she said. That’s just enough
to keep a smile on her face.

“We may be small, but we are mighty,” Hardman said.

Contact John Gardner: 384-9114jgardner@postindependent.com



Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO