April 7, 2007

Evergreen Tiger Cubs visit the Times

The Evergreen Times staff turned from reporters to hosts on March 29 when four Evergreen area Tiger Cubs from Den 8, Pack 222, along with their parents and siblings paid the Times offices a visit.

Left to right: Evergreen Times Editor/Times Media Sports Editor Diego Abeloos, Tiger Cub Christian Lee, Cub Scout Joel Ryken (sibling of Tiger Cub Nicholas Ryken), Amar Kothary, Nicholas Ryken, Nathan Yeo, siblings Ilisa and Tiya Kothary, and Den Leader Piyush Kothary. Photo by Dan Miranda

The Tiger Cubs, all students at Evergreen Elementary School, were accompanied by their Den Leader, Piyush Kothary, and came to learn the ins-and-outs of how the newspaper business works, from generating story ideas, to assigning stories, writing and photography, to the actual production process.

While munching on a plethora of cookies and sipping juice, the Tiger Cubs listened as Evergreen Times Editor/Times Media Sports Editor Diego Abeloos explained how he got started in the newspaper business as a freelance sports reporter more than five years ago, and also talked about his schooling at San Jose State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in journalism. In addition, Times staff photographer Dan Miranda spoke to the Tiger Cubs about the finer points of photography and how this aspect of journalism gives readers a visual sense of the story being told.

Following the brief learning session, the Tiger Cubs asked the staff several questions, such as “How many stories do you write every week?” and “Who do you talk to when you write a story?”

The Tiger Cubs and their families then toured the offices of the Times and got to see Times Art Director Jeff Baham put the finishing touches on the production of a Times newspaper.

All in all, a fun learning experience – and lots of sugar from the cookies and juice – was had by all.