FHS Press, 1190 Bulldog Drive, Freedom, PA (2024)

03/08/2024

Our mummy says, it’s a miracle! Photos from the Drama Club’s performance of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical” are now available for purchase! Enjoy 20% off of your prints and photo gifts, commemorating all of your favorite memories from the 2024 performance, now through March 17. Enter code MIRACLE2024 at checkout to save!

02/28/2024

Five members of Freedom Focus Media have earned Honorable Mentions in the 2024 Student Keystone Media Awards, sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association: Chase Grable, Joe Castelli, Christopher Denkovich, and Logan Larrick in the Ongoing Coverage category for their coverage of the high school roof construction project over the past two years; in the News Photograph category for his photo of the Powering Pittsburgh team’s presentation; and Denkovich in the Editorial Writing category for three of his newspaper editorials from the January, March, and October 2023 editions of the FHS Press. This also marks the second consecutive year that Denkovich has earned a Student Keystone Press Award.

02/24/2024

On Thursday, the middle school’s and Reflections Yearbook staffs joined members of the FHS Press and staff for a game of Man Bites Dog, a card game in which players are dealt cards displaying random words and must organize them to create zany headlines. As many of these middle school staffers will eventually join our high school media programs, Freedom Focus Media continues to prioritize mentorship as a key component in student journalist development.

02/23/2024

Today is Student Press Freedom Day! As a student-run media organization, independence when writing and creating is vital in the production of our publications. On Student Press Freedom Day, we celebrate the freedom to publish and continue to advocate for stronger protections not just for ourselves but for everyone who does what we do. Wondering how you can help? Talk to your state legislators about supporting and sponsoring the Student Journalism Protection Act (HB 1309 and SB 622). Let them know why student voices deserve to be heard and advisers who guide those voices should be protected.

02/22/2024

Students enrolled in our Print Media program means that you’re part of both the FHS Press and the Shawnee Yearbook Staff. At every step of the publication process, each student has a role to play. Every article starts as an idea on the SMART board. Interviews are set up and information on events are then gathered. Writing begins, being edited five times before publication. Pictures are taken and captions are written. They’re put together in a layout and amended by the class. As for the yearbook, topics are already set. Body copies are written. Mods are created and then pictures are gathered. Everything is compiled and the spread is then ready to edit. At Freedom there is no separation of publications; we complete both as a team.

02/20/2024

On the second day of Scholastic Journalism Week, we take a look at “Journalism Then.” Our publications have come a long way over the years. Did you know our yearbook was named “The Swastika” from its inception until 1942, when the staff opted to rename the book “Shawnee” during World War Il? From The Bulldog Barker (now the name of the middle school newspaper) to the Bulldog Express to the FHS Press, our newspaper has also gone through its share of changes over the years.
In short, we honor the past - publications and the staffs that produced them - by preserving and learning from their work while we document the present. Special thanks to all who have served our district over the years as members of Freedom’s publication staffs.

02/19/2024

Happy Scholastic Journalism Week, everyone! Today, we celebrate the First Amendment. The First Amendment gives freedom of speech, the press, assembly, religion, and to petition the government.
Student journalists rely on a free press to do the important work of bringing the news to their communities, and New Voices laws across the country are helping them do it without fear of censorship or retribution. Freedom Focus Media proudly supports the Student Journalism Protection Act (HB 1309 and SB 622) and hopes you’ll join us in our work to protect student journalism across the commonwealth.

01/07/2024

Nine Freedom students are advancing to the Student Journalism Competition State Finals after earning first-place finishes in their respective categories in October’s regional qualifier at Slippery Rock University. Representing the and at Finals on April 3 at Penn State University will be Jenna Haskey, Logan Larrick, Maddy Meyer, Skylar Scobbo, Brodie Falk, Aiden Pournaras, Lainey Tuszynski, and Colton Blank. Representing will be Tommy Ward.

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate from the and staff! We wish a safe and happy holiday season for everyone!

Don’t forget to purchase your yearbook before New Year’s Day for $10 off of the original price. Keep an eye out for next issue of the newspaper as well!

12/22/2023

The December issue of the FHS Press was released today! Grab one of your own from the newsstand in the main lobby, at your local businesses, or visit fhs-press.com to read your copy now!

12/20/2023

Celebrating the holiday season, and members gathered together to hold their annual Printsmas party. Members exchanged gifts in a secret Santa style, shared snacks and teamed up for “Man Bites Dog,” a humorous headline card game, to bond and have some holiday fun.
With winter break quickly approaching, be sure to keep an eye out for our December issue of the FHS Press, which will be distributed on campus tomorrow and available for pick up at a number of local businesses shortly thereafter!

12/08/2023

Light the menorah, because tonight is the beginning of Hanukkah! Happy Hanukkah, to all who celebrate, from the FHS Press and Shawnee Yearbook publications.

12/06/2023

Exciting news! Introducing the official Freedom Focus Media online merch store! Explore exclusive Freedom Focus Media, , , , OffBeat, , and Reflections Yearbook clothing, accessories, and more! Enjoy 15% off sitewide until December 17. Order now for delivery by Christmas! Your purchase supports student journalism at Freedom Area School District.

11/27/2023

Don’t miss your last chance to purchase your favorite photos for 25% off on SmugMug! Visit https://fhspress.smugmug.com/ and use the code PRINTSGIVING25 for today only!
Do you love these photos? Don’t forget to purchase your 2023-2024 yearbook to hold on to the memories for years to come! Visit shawneeyearbook.com to get yours for $10 off of the original price (until New Year’s Day)!

11/24/2023

Save on your favorite memories Black Friday-Cyber Monday with 25% off of all SmugMug photo purchases! Visit https://fhspress.smugmug.com/ and use the code PRINTSGIVING25 to purchase photos of sports, activities, and more!

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from our staff!
Be sure to look out for the November issue of the newspaper at the end of the month and don't forget to purchase your yearbook and get $10 off of the regular price (until New Year’s Day)!

10/31/2023

The October issue of the FHS Press was released today! If you didn't receive your free copy, see your White 4 teacher, grab one from the newsstand in the main lobby, visit fhs-press.com, or look out for the paper in your local businesses later this week!

Journalist

10/28/2023

Yesterday, members of Freedom Focus
Media traveled to Slippery Rock University for the fall regional student journalism contests and the university's media expo. Students competed in a multitude of categories in hopes of advancing to the state finals in April. Our student journalists also engaged in different workshops to improve their writing, photography, and social media skills, among others. Thank you to PSPA and Slippery Rock for a great day!

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10/12/2023

The FHS Press staff cares deeply about mental health awareness. We celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month with a few motivational words from our leadership!
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09/29/2023

The September issue of the FHS Press was released today! Grab one of your own from the newsstand in the main lobby, at your local businesses, or visit fhs-press.com to read your copy now!

08/15/2023

We wrapped up Summer Journalism Camp Tuesday at the middle school with sessions on social media content creation and engagement, yearbook writing, a reporting simulation, yearbook spread design, and staff assignments.

Special thanks to all of our families who provided lunches throughout our camp and to all of today’s facilitators: .sanders1, , Dr. Testa, , Ms. Dohanich, .snavely, and !

08/14/2023

We were back on campus for Day 3 of Summer Journalism Camp Monday, where our staff worked on their photography skills, began developing the theme for the 2024 , learned the value of fact checking and how to identify disinformation, and collaboratively developed creative solutions for a unique challenge.

Special thanks to today’s facilitators: , , , , , , , .sanders1, ’s Paul Fantaski!

Shout out to the girls soccer team for being our photography test subjects!

08/11/2023

Day 2 of Summer Journalism Camp took our crew to to work on team-building with the staff. Through the various activities on campus and on their low ropes course, staffers focused on communication, teamwork, patience, trust, and plenty of balance!

08/04/2023

The 2023-2024 publication year kicked off Friday with Summer Journalism Camp at FHS. Incoming FHS Press and staffers met several alumni, who facilitated a number of the day’s activities, which focused on communication, teamwork, constructive criticism, Adobe InDesign, and interviewing, among others.

Special thanks to today’s alumni facilitators, , , , and .11.s!

06/23/2023

Thank you to the students from High School who dropped by my office yesterday to discuss issues surrounding student journalists!

06/22/2023

Leaders of the FHS Press and Shawnee Yearbook traveled to the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg Thursday to join staffers from Conestoga High School’s The Spoke, meet with legislators and advocate for the Student Journalism Protection Act.

During their visit, staffers met with local Rep. Rob Matzie, joined bill sponsors Rep. Melissa Shusterman and Senator Carolyn Comitta for a press conference in the Capitol Media Center, toured the Capitol, and met with legislators from both chambers to advocate for HB 1309 and SB 622. Thank you to Sen. Comitta for recognizing our staff on the Senate floor and to both Rep. Shusterman and Sen. Comitta for inviting us today.

06/06/2023

That's right! We've added over 1,000 more photos from Friday's graduation ceremony to our SmugMug photo site, all ready and available for purchase! Still working on that scrapbook or graduation party display? We've got you covered! Visit http://fhspress.smugmug.com (link in bio) for all of your photo and photo gift needs from the year that was, including athletics, clubs and activities, special events like graduation, and more!

All proceeds benefit student journalism at Freedom Area High School.

06/05/2023

Attention graduates and families of the class of 2023:
Photos from Graduation are now available for purchase on our SmugMug site!
Order your prints, photo gifts, and digital downloads today - all perfect for scrapbooks and graduation party displays.

04/24/2023

The FHS Press is very excited to announce that we are sponsoring the Staff vs. Student Softball game!

This will be held on May 16th after school. The cost is $10 which covers your spot on the team. This will be limited to 15 students. Please sign up and bring your money to Ms. Tuszynski in the main office by May 10th. Money is non-refundable.

Not interested in playing? This game is free of charge for fans to watch. We invite everyone to come and cheer on your favorite team. Concessions will be available for purchase.