Crimson’s 100th Issue

Paso High’s newsmagazine has entered its 30th year of using Crimson as its main moniker. Since its inception, Crimson has provided a platform of authenticity and a look into the everdays of every student. Its tenure is a testament to its impact culturally on campus. There is a particular charm to the organization, as it serves as a place of creating articles which hold fast to the interests of the students among PRHS; genuinely blending both facts of news and magazine into one, comprehensive network for success.

Crimson Newsmagazine is able to create a work environment which fosters professionalism, hitting deadlines, design skills, and factual journalistic writing into a single class. The class is run by the students in it, with different roles ranging from editor to reporter to Editor In Chief, with the Advisor serving as a guide and mentor to the students. The effort from the magazine is exemplified in the national awards which the newsmagazine receives on a yearly basis, from both personalized competitions to whole-team awards. The contribution of each of our advisors has been invaluable, as they can empower any Crimson staff. Drawing out the very best of every writer, designer, photographer, anyone who feels that insatiable need to express themselves will have themselves stretched with crimson.

THEN: NATALEE JOHNSON 1990 – 1999

As the Advisor for the then Bearcat News from the years 1990-2000, Natalee Johnson served as a pillar in the history of PRHS’ student news organization. While it may not seem like so long ago, the methods for photo editing were very different,”We were still developing film and photos in the darkroom that was adjacent to my classroom and printing the articles in two inch strips to wax onto a layout sheet on a light table,” Johnson said.

The process for newsmagazine creation at the time was much more tedious and time consuming in comparison to modern day where digital applications allow for relatively quick composition in comparison to in the past. While Johnson was an advisor for Bearcat News, Superintendent Jennifer Loftus was actually an editor at the time. “I had a great time as their advisor and they had a lot of freedom to explore the topics and events of that time period in their lives,” Johnson remarked.

THEN: JEFF MOUNT 1999-2025

Jeffrey Mount, working as the Advisor for Crimson Chronicle and then Crimson Newsmagazine for 23 years was one of the key figures in the history of the organization. Mount saw the institution grow as it evolved from Crimson Chronicle to Crimson Newsmagazine. “We dropped Chronicle because it felt like a dated term. . .you don’t chronicle real alive people. I can still remember that time. It was a great staff” Mount said. 

Crimson is also a big confidence builder and eye opener, and growing in the ranks and continually bettering yourself is a big confidence boost, “It’s being a part of something bigger outside of 93446. You have to be responsible for your role,” Mount said. While Mount was an advisor, this was also the time when Crimson began to partake in the National High School Journalism Convention, “Once we went to the larger arena, and saw what other campuses produce, got judged by national journalism standards, it was night and day difference. Nationals were a huge factor in Crimson’s rise.”

NOW: AIDEN EVANS 2025 – PRESENT

Stepping up as advisor for Crimson is a huge task, but Aiden Evans was up for the job after watching the energy and teamwork that the students had in Crimson.

Previously, Evans had been co-teaching with Jeff Mount, who was the advisor for Crimson at that time. He was offered the role and was honored to take over.

He believes that Crimson is an incredible program and academic resource that helps students succeed in their high school careers, “I just want to emphasize how incredible this newsroom is, and recommend it for any student who wants to not only develop as a writer but grow in their ability to work collaboratively as a team,” said Evans.