By Ethan Walshe
Editor-in-Chief
This is our 1000th post since the Ghostwriter went online in the summer of 2009. To commemorate this moment, we have compiled a list of the top stories we have written since our transition, in terms of quality and personal favorites. They are as follows, in no particular order.
Students reflect on Olivia Marchand’s life. (Posted February 10, 2010) After the tragic death of Olivia Marchand, former editor-in-chief Barbara Morrison and multimedia editor Maria Hodgins sat down with three of her friends to discuss the impact that Olivia had on their lives. Their powerful interview marked a pivotal moment for the Ghostwriter as well as the larger Westford community. This was a piece that students wanted to read because it really mattered.
UPDATE – Missing student found. (Posted June 6, 2013). When special needs student Rebecca Campbell went missing on June 6, 2013, the entire Westford community was sent into a frenzy. Students were evacuated from school, there was a large police presence in and around the building, cars were searched, and helicopters were employed to try and find this girl. The entire Ghostwriter staff immediately sprang into action to help in their own way by constantly updating an article with the most recent facts about the situation, as well as numerous tweets and facebook posts containing updates. This represented what was potentially the most effective use of social media by the paper to date.
Close Contact Controversy: The Westford Academy Grinding Ban. (Posted October 11, 2011). When grinding was banned at Westford Academy dances in 2011, it was all anyone could talk about. This piece by former editor-in-chief Alex Lee and news editor Anastasha Echavarri was the first in what became a series of articles throughout the year on the topic. They strove to be informative about the issue while addressing all sides of the argument as well.
Poisson set to retire after 38 years. (Posted May 25, 2013). This article was a bit of a turning point for the Ghostwriter. It marked one of the few times that the paper has been accused of inaccuracies in its reporting and was criticized in a very public forum. The entire staff learned a lesson about good note taking and defending one’s own work during the ensuing controversy. Ever since, we have reminded ourselves to be careful in our reporting so as not to encounter another incident.
WA to introduce new security measures. (Posted December 20, 2012). School security became the hot topic of 2013. After the horrific tragedy that was the Sandy Hook shooting at the end of 2012, everyone nationwide had concerns about the safety of schools. In this article, editor-in-chief Ethan Walshe and staff writer Alex Gounaris outlined the new measures that would be introduced to WA and Westford Public Schools in light of the events in Newtown. This was the first in a continuing series of articles about school security that is still being discussed to this day.
Westford community remembers Phyllis Seddon. (Posted March 10, 2013). After long time Westford resident Phyllis Seddon passed away in February of 2013, three senior girls who had forged a connection with the woman and her husband George decided to organize an event that would celebrate her life. The following month, they did just that. Then photography editor Abigail Cianciolo makes the reader feel as though they were seated in the auditorium in attendance of the event when they read this detailed article.
Sonia Flew all the way to finals. (Posted March 25, 2013). Westford Academy Theatre Arts has a habit of being the best. 2013 was no different. When that year’s competition play, Sonia Flew made it to the finals of the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild’s annual showcase, staff writer Jenny Watts travelled with the cast and production crew, documenting their every move in a photo slideshow that captured the emotional highs of the victory.
WA Athletics: Damaged by concussions. (Posted January 8, 2013). Concussions are nothing new in sports. They are a danger that all athletes, whether professional or amateur must face. Then Sports Editor Kyle Auger looked into the impact that concussions have had on some athletes in the Westford community, using WA as a spotlight for an ongoing national issue.
Les Mis celebrates 15th year. (Posted November 19, 2013). WATA’s second time producing the famous musical Les Misérables was met with much anticipation and excitement from the WA community. Features Editor Ellie Smith previewed the event and was able to capture the mood of WATA as they moved forward with the production. The Ghostwriter gained some exposure with this piece as well, as it was picked up by the Westford Eagle as a front page story.
Slideshow: Class of 2013 Graduation. (Posted June 12, 2013). The Ghostwriter covers the graduation ceremonies every year, so it is nothing year. What sets this apart is the high quality photographs that really captured the atmosphere of the day, coupled with natural sound from the ceremony, live performance of the class songs, and sound bites from faculty and students. The package is pleasing and represents the best of the audio slideshow.
