As Scholastic Journalism Week nears the end, staff on The Broadview have time to reflect on what journalism means to them.

The annual week extends from Feb. 21-27, and is sponsored and scheduled by the Journalism Education Association. The event is meant to encourage young journalists to learn and exercise their First Amendment rights through producing publications, according to JEA.

Throughout the week, students and teachers alike were able to consider the significance of their First Amendment rights in their daily lives following an introductory presentation to Scholastic Journalism Week by Editor in Chief Liana Lum about press rights.

In addition to providing a venue for students to practice their press rights, journalism can grant students with many other advantages as well. In a study conducted by the Newspaper Association of America, students who participated in journalism benefited from improved grades in both high school and college as well as higher standardized testing scores.

Students who participate in journalism in school also become more involved citizens in their community and in civic matters later in their lives, according to NAA.

Besides possible educational benefits from being involved in scholastic journalism, members of The Broadview have additional reasons for being involved in the publication that reflect the importance of journalism in their personal experience.

Sophomores Claire Kosewic, Grace Ainslie and junior Lisabelle Panossian respond on why they participate in journalism: