Students pound their mouses into their mouse pads as they hopelessly search for the location of the school’s newspaper website. Little do they know that behind the scenes, the journalism staff, along with technology director, Dave Martens, have worked tirelessly to produce a better website. The Feather back online is the staff’goal and its at www.thefeather.com.
“I like the new website because we have an easy URL,” David Pohl, ’03, staff writer, said. “I hated typing all those stupid backslashes and meaningless letters.”
Highwired.com, The Feather’s old Internet provider folded due to lack of funds and journalism was forced to produce a website from scratch.
“When Highwired went down in August, I at first was depressed thinking that a new website would be almost impossible,” journalism adviser Greg Stobbe said. “However, despite this great loss, we had the opportunity to create something better. Mr. (David) Martens and I sat down with superintendent (Tim) Wilkins and we hammered out the general concept that turned into what you see today.”
Highwired gave space to high schools to show their newspaper, classrooms, and sports. It also housed The Feather for three years and still holds its archives under the name www.highschooljournalism.org. This site also displays 350 newspapers including a link to The Feather. With Highwired’s demise, the American Society of Newspaper Editors has also taken over the rights of Higwired to follow suit and display high school newspapers at www.asne.com.
“This new website has jubilated me beyond perceivable limits, and I find myself to be the quintessence of excitement,” Brad Hart, ’03, editor-in-chief, said. “Every time I type a letter, my finger tips tingle knowing it will appear on our new website. I feel as if rays of sunshine burst from my soul positively affecting students around me. I have poured my blood and sweat into this paper and finally it is going somewhere.”
For more information on The Feather, please go to www.theFeather.com and e-mail the staff or use www.FresnoChristian.com. Students may also call the high school office at 297-9464 and leave a message on adviser Stobbe’s answering service at 297-9464, ext. 151.
