Ria Lowenschuss
Writer, Reporter, Editor-in-Chief
Features
Women in Jazz — Sophia Svinicki
Women in Jazz received second place as a feature column in the 2021 MIPA Awards. Published on "The Communicator Online."
Along with another journalist on staff at The Communicator, Geneve Thomas-Palmer, I wrote a series of feature stories on the women in the highest band in Community High School's band program. This story was on Sophia Svinicki, a bassist in Jazz 4 who struggles with binge eating. I spent hours texting with Sophia after our Zoom interview. We talked about her first experiences with music, on the toy piano in her basement. She told me how jazz is a replacement for her binge eating — she calls it "jazz binging." I loved being able to share her story for her.
Women in Jazz received second place as a feature column in the 2021 MIPA Awards. Published on "The Communicator Online."
Women in Jazz — Stevie Dumitrascu
In another piece for the Women in Jazz series, I wrote about Stevie Dumitrascu, a bassist in Jazz 4 at Community High School. As a sophomore, Stevie is the youngest women in Jazz 4. Stevie brings a much-needed perspective to the Women in Jazz series — and to the jazz program itself — as an underclassmen who is still exploring her voice. She discussed wanting to be a role model for herself, and other young women wanting to persue jazz.
The Religion Rift
Along with my fellow journalist, Ella Rosewarne, I wrote a piece on teenagers with different religious views than their families. We explored how religion created conflict within familial settings, and how the pandemic affected their religious connections.
This piece won second place for diversity coverage in news writing for the 2021 MIPA Awards. Published in "The Communicator Magazine" Volume 47, Ed. 3.
Weight Does Not Equate to Worth
This feature story was published in our first print edition of the 2021-2022 school year. It explores how eating disorders exploded during quarantine, especially in teenagers. I talked to Chrissy Kuiper, a senior at CHS, who struggled with over-exercising and under-eating throughout our online year of school. I also interviewed two therapists who specialize in eating disorders and learned about coping mechanisms.
What We Owe
In an article for our history edition, I collaborated with my fellow journalist Felicity Rosa-Davies to cover lives of some of our alumni. We interviewed four Community High School graduates about their lives after high school and what they took from CHS. I learned so much from writing this piece — namely, that high school goes by much quicker than expected.
Blooming Into Queer Identity
As a queer woman myself, I have spent a lot of time considering my sexuality — what it means, how it defines me, how it influences my life. I know that sexual orientation can be a big part of someone's psyche, especially the moment when they are questioning their sexuality. I interviewed students and staff at my school about their own journey.