Vanessa Masterson

About The Vanessa Masterson Journal

The Vanessa Masterson Journal is a public journalism portfolio that brings together Vanessa’s reporting, opinion writing, advice columns, and newspaper page designs. It gives visitors one place to explore work published in La Vista News, Tideline News, and the Palisadian-Post, alongside the Dear Vany advice column. Publication collections, individual stories, and visual galleries help readers follow both the writing and the design behind a student newspaper.

This website is for readers interested in student journalism, editors reviewing Vanessa’s work, educators, and anyone curious about the communities and experiences reflected in her reporting. Visitors can browse published pieces, examine print layouts, learn about her editorial responsibilities, and discover the personal story behind her interest in journalism. The contact form also provides a place for writing and design inquiries, story tips, and general questions.

Vanessa Masterson is the student journalist, editor, and advice columnist whose work forms this collection. The website was designed and built by The Tip Jar Project. Together, the portfolio’s newspaper-inspired presentation and collected clippings offer a clear introduction to Vanessa’s developing voice, collaborative experience, and commitment to thoughtful communication.

Hi, my name is Vanessa, and I am a senior in high school with a passion for journalism. As a youngest daughter in a talkative family, I learned at a young age that speaking softly was not enough to claim ones place in a conversation. My opinionated nature has been my compass throughout life, and it led me to the field of journalism at a very young age.

Through journalism, I've learned how to express my views on politics, community decisions, and teenage problems in a poised and digestible way, recognizing my audiences and striving to not only make my voice heard but use it to instill change. When working to publish an article, one must graciously accept tons of changes to their work by editors and publishers, but ensure that the core values of their work are still intact; this collaborative process of often deeply personal work teaches resilience, adaptability, and professionalism, which are qualities that I've developed and carried into my personal life. The way these different voices and points of view synthesize to create a successful publication is what makes journalism so interesting to me. Journalism teaches strategy, persuasive agility, and has served as an opportunity to refine my candid, outspoken nature into approachable, assertive writing.

The Spelling Bee

I've always had an instinct to report and logicize information, while building a personal angle on it. When I was just seven years old, I attended the Pacific Palisades Spelling Bee where I sat in the audience and watched my brother compete. I brought my notebook to the Bee, and as the competition was happening, I tallied how many words each contestant got correct, so I could see the winners for myself before they were even announced. I was proud to be the first one to tell my parents that my brother had won Second Place.

The photographer of the Palisadian-Post was shooting the event and I took notice of his presence. Proud of my tallying method and award discovery, I tapped the man on the shoulder and asked if he'd like to photograph my notebook so it could go in the next issue of the newspaper. My wish was granted, and I spoke to him for about half an hour, where he told me I should apply to become a Junior Reporter at the Palisadian-Post.

"I tapped the man on the shoulder and asked if he'd like to photograph my notebook so it could go in the next issue of the newspaper."

Becoming a Junior Reporter

I applied and became a Junior Reporter shortly after, with my first "article" being the photo of my notebook. For two years, I ran costume contests on the Kids Page of the newspaper and wrote about what I wanted to see grow and change in the Palisades community. But, when I was nine, I had a special idea.

I had recently read the fifth book of the Dork Diaries series, where the protagonist, a girl not much older than me at the time, starts an advice column in her school's newspaper. I decided, if she can do that, so can I! I started Dear Vany, my advice column for kids and teens, in the Palisadian Post in the very beginning of 2019.

Dear Vany

Since then, I've been responding to Palisadian kids and teens' tricky questions, with what I think they should do to better their situation. My readers send me questions like: "My friends are leaving me out recently, and I don't know why. How should I approach them?" or "What is a good age for a kid to start walking home from school by themselves?". They entrust me with their harrowing personal problems, and I always have a piece of experience, tough love, or empathy that will hopefully be their guiding light to overcoming it.

High School Newspapers

Alongside Dear Vany in the Post, I've also written for two high school newspapers since my freshman year. I applied to be a Staff Writer in Tideline, Pali High's school newspaper at the end of my eighth grade year, and got accepted, so I was part of it for all of ninth grade, and the first semester of 10th grade. However, during Winter Break of 10th grade, the Palisades Fire destroyed my home and damaged Pali High, forcing me to switch schools. Luckily, the school I transferred to, just twenty days after the fire, Mira Costa High School, also had an amazing journalism program, just like Pali. I joined their paper, La Vista, as soon as I arrived at the school.

Editorial Leadership

I was a Staff Writer for La Vista for the remainder of my 10th grade year, and applied for an editorial position in 11th grade. I was given the role of Executive Features Editor for 11th grade, which was one of the most exciting moments of my journalism career, because not all juniors are given these positions. In this role, I executively managed the Features section, thinking of story ideas for Features, writing many of them myself, assigning the others to Staff Writers, delegating tasks to the fellow Features editor I worked with, and not just designing my own page layout for each issue by overseeing and co-designing my fellow editor's page layout as well. This role taught me about collaboration, leadership, time management, and using computer programs to create aesthetically pleasing page layouts with consistent folio. Wanting to try something new, I applied to be the Executive Opinion Editor this year, to which I was given the position. The Opinion section is where my heart truly lies. I am absolutely loving this position and I've found my editing skills have already improved having switched to a fresh, new section.

What's Next

As I embark on my journey into college, and life after high school, I plan to continue my education in journalism, keeping my best use of my voice alive. I want to build on what I already know, and learn much, much more. I have so many lessons in front of me that will make me into a stronger journalist, and it is work that I am extremely excited to do.

Off the Page

Outside of journalism, you can find me on the big stage! One thing about me: whether I'm writing, singing, or performing comedy- I have the "gift of gab", and I'm a passionate speaker and communicator. I perform in multiple plays, musicals, and comedy shows at school every year, often writing my own sketch comedy that is performed by my friends and I. As a dancer from a very young age, I found a love for musical theater when I entered high school, as a way to tell a full story through movement. I am on the Theater Arts board at Mira Costa High School, and recently closed Hadestown as a summer show for Palos Verdes Performing Arts. Currently, I am performing as Mrs. Whatsit in our fall play, A Wrinkle in Time!

Thank you for reading!