Users of the Demon Direct newspaper might have seen some changes for the site this year.
In recent weeks, a realignment of editors and a site update have taken place. The site will continue to offer content about Duncan Middle School, the Duncan area and even some state content.
After the departure of one of the editors in chief, a change in the editorial staff was needed. Additionally, new disciplines have been enabled to ensure the newspaper class stays right-side up.
Thor Beck, an eighth-grader in the newspaper class, has moved into the vacant editor in chief position.
At the start of the year, Beck was a sports reporter before becoming sports assistant editor and finally the sports editor, as the team made choices to best improve the sports section of the website.
Beck feels happy that he’s managed to climb to said position.
“It feels like I climbed Mt. Everest,” he said.
He doesn’t see himself as someone better than the rest of the class, but as someone who can help more effectively.
“No, why would I?” said Beck. “Sometimes the world changes you, and sometimes you change the world.”
Beck isn’t the only change to the sports section of the Demon Direct.
Kian Sayson, another eighth-grader, started the year as the sports editor before encouraging Beck to move into the sports editor position. Sayson is once again the sports editor.
He said he is glad to be sports editor again and is proud of how much his has grown up since the beginning of the year. He said he plans to make the best of his current position because he has put more effort into improving his story writing.
“I get to write stories again, but I need to better myself,” Sayson said.
Another change to the editing team is the promotion of Erta Jetishi.
Jetishi was the clubs team’s assistant editor, but she has now become the lead editor for clubs. This decision was lead by the original clubs editor, Hunter Phillips, who now acts as the assistant editor.
Jetishi said she feels great about moving into the new position and hopes to do what’s best for her team.
Other changes on the site include an updated layout on the homepage, some font and color changes, and more promotion of the site video section. There has also been a push to improve story output and editing.
The Demon Direct is an award winning news site. In the first few years of competing in the Oklahoma Scholastic Media online news competition, the site received Honors. However, in the past three years, the site has received Highest Honors and All-Oklahoma. Several individual stories have also received Best of SNO (School Newspapers Online) awards, including two this year.
