After years of hard work, OHS senior Anderson Shows has been awarded Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year.
“I have been working towards this award since freshman year, and it’s really cool to see all my hard work pay off,” Anderson Shows said. “I am also so excited to join the list of amazing high school journalists from Oxford who have also won this award.”
Anderson Shows feels that none of this would have been possible without the support of his parents. They have learned about journalism with Anderson Shows over the years.
“When Anderson started working with the media, I do not think I even knew awards like this existed,” Ashley Shows said. “But, I think, as his parents, we are most excited about this award because we have watched how much time and effort he puts into this, so to receive some acknowledgment has been awesome for us as well.”
At OHS, Anderson Shows began his journalism career as a staff writer for theCharger. He is now co-editor-in-chief of theCharger, head director of Oxford High Sports Productions, Activities Media Specialist Assistant and Manager of Creative Content for Oxford Football and Oxford Baseball.
“Anderson is one of the hardest working, most passionate students I have had the privilege of teaching,” advisor of theCharger Diala Chaney said. “He is so driven and loves making films about all the sporting events at our school. His vision for media days and graphics for the jumbotrons are just a few examples of the many different ways he showcases his talent.”
One of the most notable things he has done at OHS is reviving the Sports Productions department, more specifically The Season during his freshman year. He spends many hours making documentary style films specific to sports teams and their journey to where they are now.
“Seeing our school lacking in that side of journalism really struck me the wrong way, and I knew I wanted to fix that,” Anderson
Shows said. “Seeing how far The Season has come since then is one of the coolest things I am able to be a part of.”
Something that has really helped to improve Anderson Shows’ in his abilities has been interning with Ole Miss Sports Productions. Through this he gets to film at various sports events, edit and assist with The Season.
“Anderson’s drive is a part of it,” Ashley Shows said. “But he is also very fortunate that Micah Ginn, Merrick McCool and the team
at Ole Miss Sports Productions have allowed him to learn under them.”
He takes all that he has learned at Ole Miss and applies it to his work at OHS. The most fulfilling part to him is seeing people enjoy his work and be so excited to see it. He also really enjoys getting to cover the sports that do not typically get as much attention.
“I’m so proud of Anderson for his constant dedication to his craft,” Chaney said. “He works day and night to create a product that he can be proud of. He does a wonderful job representing his fellow students and the Oxford School District.”
Chaney has had the privilege of having four of her students win Mississippi High School Journalist of the Year in the last ten years, including Davis McCool, Winnie Wilson, Caroline Berry and now Anderson Shows.
“He joins an amazingly talented group of individuals,” Chaney said. “It means so much that I’ve been blessed to teach students like these who are so passionate about the subject I teach.”
It is very impressive to see how far Anderson has come and how he will continue to grow throughout the years to come when he is in college.
“Next year I will attend the University of Mississippi and am planning on continuing my career in journalism at the collegiate level,” Anderson Shows said. “I love everything about journalism, and being able to work for this to be my full time job is a dream come true.”
