School newspapers thousands of miles apart team up to heal from wildfires

In the wake of a devastating wildfire that tore through a California high school’s newsroom, leaving behind a trail of destruction including cameras, computers, and archived newspapers spanning six decades, an outpouring of support came from an unexpected source on the other side of the country.

Claire Smith, the founding executive director of Temple University’s sports media center, reached out to her longtime friend Lisa Nehus Saxon, the journalism adviser at Palisades Charter High School, to offer assistance in the aftermath of the tragedy. Smith and Nehus Saxon had a shared history of breaking barriers for women journalists in Major League Baseball, supporting each other through the challenges of being marginalized in a male-dominated industry.

Smith made the journey from Philadelphia to California to deliver a special gift to the high school staff: a university paper featuring articles written by the students. The insert showcased a range of topics, from the impact of the wildfire on the rental market to personal accounts of loss and resilience. The project also included contributions from students at Pasadena Rosebud Academy, a school in Altadena that was also affected by the fire.

The wildfires in January wreaked havoc on the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of structures, including homes, schools, businesses, and places of worship. Palisades Charter High School, with a student body of around 3,000, suffered significant damage to its campus, forcing the relocation of classes to a temporary space in an old Sears building. Many of the newspaper staff members lost their homes in the fire, adding to the sense of loss and displacement.

For Nehus Saxon and Smith, the collaborative project was a way to provide the students with a sense of purpose and healing in the midst of tragedy. By sharing their stories with a wider audience, the students were able to process their experiences and find a sense of community and support.

The print edition of the university paper was a tangible reminder of resilience and solidarity for the students. Seeing their articles in print for the first time was a powerful moment of validation for their hard work and dedication to journalism. Kate Swain, a co-editor-in-chief of the paper, described the experience as surreal yet affirming, given the challenges they had overcome.

Gigi Appelbaum, another co-editor-in-chief who lost her home in the fire, emphasized the significance of the project in connecting with people across the country who empathized with their situation. The support from afar provided a sense of comfort and validation for the students as they navigated the aftermath of the disaster.

As Nehus Saxon and Smith reflected on their enduring friendship and shared experiences over the years, they marveled at the unexpected ways their paths had intertwined. From their early days in baseball journalism to their recent collaboration on the high school project, their bond had only grown stronger with time.

In the face of overwhelming loss and uncertainty, the collaboration between Temple University and Palisades Charter High School symbolized the power of solidarity and compassion in times of crisis. As the students move forward with resilience and determination, the printed edition of their work will serve as a testament to their strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.