Four times a year, a fresh, ink-scented issue of the Paper Tiger lands here on campus, featuring stories and perspectives from our student journalists. But have you ever considered what's behind those stacks of newspapers we all read and enjoy? It's the LWHS Journalism PPP class—the engine behind a year-long hustle that produces the school’s beloved print newspaper. It's a massive, collaborative undertaking that requires deep research, thoughtful interviewing, skilled writing, and technical design work.

The journalism class exists to do much more than just report on basic campus happenings. This special classroom serves as a real-world laboratory where students learn and practice skills that are vital to a democracy. Through their work, students master the ability to:

• Engage with communities as members of the press, developing civic accountability and responsibility.
• Practice rigorous, unbiased truth-telling while navigating complex ethical situations.
• Critically consume media and information, learning how to look past easy assumptions.
• Amplify diverse perspectives, ensuring that varied voices across the community are heard.

Equipped with these skills, in each issue students push past prevailing narratives to uncover the deeper stories that truly matter to the LWHS and broader Bay Area communities.

To pull this off, the class operates just like a professional newsroom. The process begins with lively pitching sessions where students present their ideas to the editorial team, proving how their story aligns with the paper's mission of unbiased truth-telling and civic engagement. Through this process, students learn how to consume media critically, navigate complex ethical responsibilities, and use their own voices to highlight perspectives that might otherwise go unheard.

Producing four high-quality papers a year doesn't happen by accident. It takes immense dedication, long layout sessions, and strong leadership—much of which has been carried this year by our graduating seniors, all under the guidance and support of journalism teacher Judy Butterfield. As our seniors prepare to graduate and take their storytelling skills into the wider world, four of the paper's senior leaders reflected on what this brave learning community has meant to them:

• Ruby K. ‘26: "The most rewarding part has been the opportunity to engage with people through interviews that I otherwise would never have met. Last year, I wrote an opinion piece about the film Zurawski v. Texas and interviewed one of the plaintiffs, as well as multiple women from pro-life organizations throughout the Bay Area. The women all shared opinions and experiences that I had never previously engaged with. Put simply, it was the opportunity to engage with conflicting worldviews at the same time, all in pursuit of truth. The stories I choose to tell are driven by a desire to keep our community informed—even when uncomfortable or unpopular."
• Gabi G-T. ‘26: "The most rewarding part of working on the Paper Tiger has been to interview really unique people. From interviewing the President of the Mission Merchants Association, to local restaurant owners in the Mission, truckers, and local artists, I have had many opportunities to learn from diverse people. Each interview reminds me why journalism is so important; it invites new perspectives by highlighting a diverse range of voices that otherwise might go unheard."
• Frances C. ‘26: "My favorite story to cover was my center spread on the war in Sudan. This year I’ve promoted a lot of efforts to bring international stories to the paper, because it’s a tragic event that so few people know about. Getting to interview professors who are experts on the region was extremely enlightening and altered my way of approaching the world. It was also exciting because I took the center spread opportunity to try new layout formats to make the paper more visually stimulating."
• Marcos K. ‘26: "The most rewarding part of working on the Paper Tiger is the community. Everyone in the class has different interests and personalities, but we're all connected through our passion for journalism. The process of laying out the paper each cycle is a lengthy process, but it is so worth it seeing how the paper comes out. My favorite story to cover was 'The Hallyu, or the Korean Wave' during my junior year; I felt proud writing it as a Korean-American."

Paper Tiger Fun Facts:

• The final Paper Tiger issue of the 25-26 school year comes out next week! Pick up your copy on the last day of school, Wednesday June 3, from the wooden news boxes in the main lobby and the cafeteria.
• The Paper Tiger maintains an online version where you can find past articles and digital coverage.
• This year, the journalism program expanded its horizons by launching a brand-new magazine format called The Eye of the Tiger. You’ll see it folded inside the new issue on June 3.
• You can directly support the future of student journalism at LWHS through this year’s Senior Class Gift! The Class of 2026 is championing the essential role of free speech and student voices in this year’s campaign—join them in making an impact.

The LWHS community owes the entire journalism class, alongside Ms. Butterfield, a huge thank you for their focus on inclusive narratives, their curiosity about the world around us, and their dedication to keeping us all connected. And please join us in sending a special congratulations and a wealth of gratitude to the graduating seniors who are leaving behind an incredible standard of excellence!

Co-Editors-in-Chief of the Paper Tiger:
Sanya S. '26, Ruby K. '26, Gabi G-T. '26 

Editors of The Eye of the Tiger Magazine:
Frances C. '26, Sanya S. '26

Staff Writers and Layout Editors:
Yaretzi C. '26, Addison C. '26, Colin D. '26, Noemi G. '26, Marcos K. '26, Hugo L. '26, Avery Y. '26