LUCIA BERMUDEZ
Champion Journalist Portfolio
Reviews
All four reviews below were featured in the Cultural Buzz section of the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine. Serving as Variety Editor my sophomore year, I was heavily exposed to review writing and have experimented with the style since.
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Editorials
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"Francis Fever" was the first editorial I wrote on staff. It detailed my opinions about Pope Francis and what he represents for the Catholic community. It took several edits from my peers and editors to ensure it was journalistically sound. However, my message remained the same throughout the editing process, and I was able to express my thoughts about a topic that hits close to home.
I wrote "Hate State" as a critical review of "Hate," the kick-off documentary for the Athens Jewish Film Festival. Based on my newfound knowledge regarding remaining anti-Semitism in Europe, I was able to analyze my own perceptions of anti-Semitism and the points made in the film in an editorialized film review.
My second "Letter from the Editor" touched on the many changes 2016 brought to the Clarke County School District and looked ahead to a new year and fresh start. This piece was a vast improvement from my past editorials, with concise and pointed writing, a clear message and a call to action.
This editorial was the first one I was truly proud of. I spoke on the stereotypical and offensive language sometimes used to describe Latinas and the dehumanizing effects of that -- an issue I feel has great importance for myself and my community.
When the U.S. attorney Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) immigration policy, I feel compelled to speak on the policy's significance for many people in the U.S., specifically Latino immigrants, and what I believe would be a better alternative to the policy.
This Letter From the Editor touched on the importance of social media as a grounds for knowledge and information spreading and social consciousness culture, which I feel is significant in this day and age.
Through the media and verbal accounts, I have been made aware of the many times U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have inhumanely or irresponsibly detained under-documented people. I felt this was an important issue to give voice to.
