Abby Landwehr

Look at that, I made it to the front.

At least, “the front” is what the main newsroom is referred to as by the mail room. 

I’ve been working on the Tribune’s mail crew for about seven months now. I saw the ad for the job in, of all places, the newspaper. The first day was a little rough. We had five inserts that night and I couldn’t quite seem to get the hang of the binding machine. I also quickly learned that the ink from the papers will rub off on your fingers, so unless you prefer dark smudges under your eyes, don’t touch your face.

Since then, I’ve taught myself to think before touching something after folding papers and (most days) I’m even able to conquer the binding machine. I’m also more certain with my place in the crew. There’s often disagreements about the temperature and some groans when the renowned sage grouse find their way into the paper once again, but I still enjoy the job.

Now, as the Powell Tribune’s new intern, I’m finding myself faced with another new dynamic. It’s technically the same building, just the side of the building facing Main Street. 

While I’ve been involved in my high school’s journalism program since my sophomore year, I’ve had an interest in taking photos, making videos and writing since I was a kid. My freshman year I was offered the no-option-option of joining journalism by my then-English teacher and now-journalism adviser Vin Cappiello.

So the next year, I joined the PHS Prowl, Powell High School’s online newspaper.

I was hooked.

Throughout the years, I’ve worked my way through the ranks. I was a Prowl reporter my sophomore year, photo/video editor my junior year and have spent my senior year as the Prowl’s editor. I’ve been awarded two Best of SNO awards for two of my articles, represented Wyoming at the 2020 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference and had the opportunity to attend the 2019 National High School Journalism Convention in Washington, D.C. And I’ve gotten to do all of this while doing the thing I love most.

Through journalism, I’m able to take something I’m already fond of and apply it to my community. Making videos, writing articles and taking photos gives me the opportunity to share stories with the rest of the world. As a good amount of students at the high school know, I’m more likely to be carrying a camera bag while walking down the hall than anything else. 

I’m confident that I will get the hang of how “the front” works, much like I have with “the back.” In the meantime, though, I’m looking forward to my time interning for the Tribune. And like always, I’m excited to continue to share stories — whether that means getting ink on my fingers or not.