Jackson literary magazine earns honors
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

DAVE BENJAMIN Staff members of Jackson Views, the literary magazine at Jackson Memorial High School, are proud of the honors the publication has received. Pictured are (back l-r) Ryan Fenimore, Grant Gourley, Melissa Marini, Jillian Polak and Cassidy Bartolini; and (front l-r) Alison Sotolongo, editor; Julie Tracy, editor; Emily McDonald and Katie Ciarelli.

JACKSON - Jackson Memorial High School has done it again with a top literary magazine for the second year in a row.

"There's always pressure to continue the tradition of excellence and once again the students have been able to achieve this, said Bruce Miller, who teaches journalism and English at JMHS.

Miller, who has been the literary magazine's adviser since 1984, said he was thrilled at the superior work and effort the student staff always puts in to produce great work.

Jackson Views 2006, the school's literary magazine, has been ranked as the best in the state for 2005 and 2006, and it has once again been presented with a national excellence award by the American Scholastic Press Association.

Jackson Views features students' poetry, artwork and photography and was recognized for its outstanding writing, variety of materials, attractive design and format, and superior editing, Miller said.

"The 2006 edition of Jackson Views was up against hundreds of other schools in the nation in a program to recognize excellence in student literary magazines," he said.

The staff for Jackson Views 2006 included co-editors in chief Julie Tracy and Alison Sotolongo, literary editor Christine Shuster, art editors Alexi Fisk and Alexa MacFarlane, and layout editor Christine Hordeman.

The editor of this year's magazine is Emily MacDonald, who was also on last year's staff, Miller said.

All aspects of the publication are accomplished in school with the supervision of graphics arts teacher Lloyd Taylor.

Each year since 1984, the literary magazine has showcased the writing and artistic talents of students at JMHS. The staff has weekly meetings to review poetry, photographs, artwork and prose that has been submitted by students.

Jackson Views 2007 is now a work in progress with plans and decisions about the next issue of the magazine being made by the student staff.

In addition to winning the award for top literary magazine in the state, Jackson Views has been ranked as the best literary magazine in Ocean County for the past 16 years.