You should be a human first, then a journalist — Powell High School senior Gabby Paterson was told to follow those priorities by her adviser two years ago. 

She took the advice and ran with it. Now, she’s been named the Wyoming Journalist of the Year.

The scholarship will give her $500 and the chance to be considered for the Journalism Education Association Student Journalist of the Year.

In the two years since Paterson joined Powell High School’s online student newspaper The Prowl, she has contributed roughly 30 media items including stories and photos. She was also a recipient of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Award and a member of the 2022 4A/3A All-State student newspaper. Paterson said she’s also one of few student journalists in the state to hold a School Newspapers Online (SNO) Badge along with fellow Prowl journalist Nathan Feller. SNO is a company which provides websites for student newspapers including The Prowl.

Now a passionate advocate for both student and professional journalism, she joked she’d only joined up to get out of a gym class.

“​​But my former adviser, [Mr. Vin Cappiello], really made an impact on me and showed how journalism isn’t just fake news, that it’s valuable to everyday life,” Paterson said.”I just put so much time and dedication and long hours of just editing and writing and sometimes writing things that I didn’t want to write. It just feels like all that finally paid off.”

Paterson’s personal philosophy on student journalism is reporters should be writing for the benefit of the school and its students.

To find success in student journalism, or any endeavor you have to go outside your comfort zone, she said. Two of Paterson’s favorite stories she’s written were on difficult topics. The first was about mandatory vaccinations for health care workers and how that impacts Powell. The second story was on club regulations at Powell High School in relation to the Fellowships of Christian Athletes and Gay Straight Alliance. 

“If you want to be recognized for your journalistic works and your dedication to it, you have to write stories that put you out of your comfort zone,” Paterson said.

This approach requires a sense for journalistic ethics and Paterson said it is important to stay neutral and be respectful of people who don’t want their story published.

“It’s really important for journalists to remember that they’re people before they’re journalists. So if someone doesn’t want a story written about them, then you have to respect that,” Paterson said. “I think a lot of people, a lot of journalists don’t respect that and they just keep pushing. But I always think if they don’t want it, then just move on.”

Even if she is moving onto an education in athletic training, she doesn’t know if she can ever say goodbye to journalism. Paterson will also earn a communications minor from the University of Wyoming.

“I can always fall back on journalism because I know I’ll find joy in it and I’ll be happy,” Paterson said.