For Jordyn Martin, a sophomore at Sanford High School, a journalism class started as a curiosity. That curiosity grew into a passion, first as a writer for the Spartan Times, Sanford High's online newspaper, and now as a staff writer for the Sanford Springvale News.
Martin earned the role through Sanford High School’s Extended Learning Opportunities. After writing a promotional piece for Sanford High's performing arts department production of Newsies, Sanford Springvale News editor Kendra Williams took notice and personally reached out to her. For Martin, the opportunity represented something bigger than a byline.
"It means a lot to me to be part of this," Martin said. "It's not just writing for a school newspaper. It's so amazing to be part of the community in this way, and to be able to give back."
Williams spoke highly of Martin's early work with the paper.
"Through her first stories covering upcoming school and youth theater productions, she's already demonstrated professionalism, reliability, and a keen ability to tell engaging stories," Williams said. "With two years of high school still ahead of her, she has tremendous potential, and I'm excited to see how she grows as a journalist while taking on a wider variety of stories for our community newspaper."
Martin credits her foundation to Journalism I, taught by Lauren Roy at Sanford High. The course introduced her to AP style, story structure, and the fundamentals of interviewing, all skills she now applies independently as a reporter. She admitted the early weeks were a challenge. Learning to write in a style she had never encountered before, with its specific rules around structure and formatting. But as the writing piled up, so did her confidence.
"Once you get so familiar and comfortable with the style, it makes it a lot easier down the line," she said. "Now I can just get all the information and organize it in a way that helps people understand it."
Interviewing, she noted, was one of the most valuable skills the class gave her. Martin handles all of her own interviews, from reaching out to sources to recording conversations and reviewing transcripts for accuracy. She has developed a style that prioritizes making people comfortable. Williams noted that Martin has "a natural talent for interviewing people and putting them at ease."
"I just like to have a conversation," she said. "It's not as intimidating when it feels like that."
Since joining the Sanford Springvale News, Martin has published articles focusing primarily on arts and entertainment. She is also drawn to stories about community fundraisers, work that she sees as a natural extension of her belief that local efforts deserve recognition. Seeing her byline in print for the first time, picking up a copy at Shaw's the morning it was published, was a moment she said she will not forget.
"It just meant so much to me that someone saw something in me, and something in my hard work, and my passion," she said.
Sanford Springvale News Production Manager Michelle McCarthy said young writers like Martin bring "fresh energy and perspective" to the paper, gaining experience in what she described as a "low-key, nurturing yet professional environment."
Back at Sanford High School, Martin will serve as a copy editor for the Spartan Times next year and plans to launch a broadcast segment covering arts and entertainment, a new challenge she is already looking forward to. Longer term, she hopes to pursue journalism as a career.
"There's always a story," she said. "It always keeps me on my toes."