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CJ looks like he wants to say something, but luckily, he doesn’t. I hardly know him, but I can already tell that whatever was going to come out of his mouth would have either embarrassed me or Cole, or even both of us.
Walking off, I head inside the classroom ready to start the lesson. The teacher is already present and standing at the front, shuffling papers on his desk. He’s much younger than I expected him to be. His experience and the fact he’s highly recommended as a teacher made me think he was older. But he must only be in his late twenties, early thirties.
Opting to keep out of sight until I get a feel for him and the class, I find a table at the back of the room and take a seat.
In the midst of grabbing my writing pad and pencil case, the two chairs scrape back on either side of me. Excited to meet other students, I lift my head with a wide smile on my face, ready to introduce myself. My smile falls when my eyes reach Cole’s deep blue ones. Slowly and reluctantly, I turn my head to the other side of me, already knowing who to expect, and I’m right when I find CJ taking a seat, looking at me with an amused expression.
I roll my eyes, muttering, “Great. Just fucking great,” under my breath.
I ignore CJ’s chuckle and Cole in general. I listen to the teacher introduce himself as Professor Oliver Moby, before listening to him discuss the course and what’s expected of us.
Everyone sits back, taking notes just like I am. I actually find Professor Moby interesting and can really see myself enjoying his class.
The class is coming to an end, and Professor Moby finishes the lesson off with a question.
“There isn’t a right or wrong answer to this. This is just me trying to get a feel for you and what you want to achieve. If you could run your own magazine, what would you, as the editor, run as the main featured articles?”
He points to a lad in the front row, asking him to stand up and introduce himself and give us his answer.
“I’m Zeke Berry.” He waves. “I’d find out the truth about celebrities. I think most of what is written in today’s papers and on social media is just assumption. I’d find out how they really live, what the real story is, and get their side, not a reporter’s side.”
I grunt loudly, not meaning to. But I’m just wondering if this guy knows anything at all about magazines. Most of them now have everythingcelebrity. There isn’t a magazine or newspaper out there that doesn’t have a celebrity on the front page with some over the top headline. If it isn’t pictures of how much weight a celebrity has gained or pictures of celebs caught with sweat patches on the red carpet, then it’s something else close to that.
“You disagree, Miss…?” Professor Moby calls out, and everyone turns their attention to me. I blush, ducking my head. When he gestures for me to stand, I swallow back my nerves and rise slowly from my seat, putting on a calm mask.
“Willow Saunders,” I call out. “And yes, I disagree,” I tell him, before addressing the room. “Are you really telling me the size of Kim Kardashian’s arse is more important than reporting real problems, real stories, and crimes?” I ask, and the room erupts with sniggers.
“A few years ago, a girl was brutally raped and was forced to keep her baby because of her religion. The papers didn’t need to reveal the full story, but they could have reported the rape. Instead of this being headline news, a story about a young teenage boy getting into a fight was headlined.
“When a celebrity dies of cancer, it’s all over social media, printed in magazines all over the world, but what about all the survivors of cancer? Why aren’t their stories just as important? I’m not saying celebrities don’t deserve to have recognition, because they do. My argument is,toomany news outlets concentrate far too much on the same stories, on the same people.
“The world we live in is changing, it’s progressing. I personally believe that people’s stories are worth telling. It gives other people hope, faith. It shows them they aren’t alone in any situation.
“A celebrity loses weight and it’s posted everywhere. But they get more help losing their weight. They’ve got money to lose their weight. There are people out there who work twice as hard who deserve to show others out there that they can do it, that they can achieve their goal without having wealth.
“People may want to read celebrity gossip, but they also want to read something new, something fresh and different.
“I also believe it would be beneficial. Think of all the magazines you see on the shelves. They’re the same celebs, same stories, just different headlines. They’re all competing.
“A woman from my hometown went backpacking ten years ago with her boyfriend. Long story short, he was eaten by a person, a cannibal, a monster, and she barely escaped alive,” I tell them. This is the story I submitted as an entry assignment for this class. Professor Moby must have seen it, because when I look up, I notice the recognition flash in his eyes.
With a pause, I take the time to look around the classroom, seeking out their reactions. They look stunned, some looking horrified. I give them a small smile.
“Now, put your hand up if that little disclosure makes you want to know more?”
Slowly, one by one, the students raise their hands. When enough of them have their hands up, I look back to Professor Moby and shrug, proving my point.
“This is what I believe. I don’t expect everyone else to have the same beliefs. But I don’t think just because you have wealth and status that only your story should be told. I believe everyone deserves to be heard,” I tell him, finishing my point. I may have gone a little far, explained a little too much, but it’s something I strongly believe in.
“That’s… That’s quite an argument,” Professor Moby says, and I notice a hint of respect in his expression. “But what makes you think people will want to share their stories?”
“That’s what’s so rare about telling other people’s real-life stories. While reporters are busy focusing on celebrities or the government, no one is watching the ‘little people’. People will talk. You’d be surprised by just how many. It will also help the people who have or are going through the same thing to cope.
“Take grieving, for example. Everyone grieves differently; pushes through their paindifferently.But who’s saying one of those methods won’t work for someone else? And they’ll never know unless it’s being told.”
“Well, Miss Saunders, you’ve given us something to think about until our next session. Which reminds me, your first assignment.” He smiles, and a few students groan, not seeming pleased.
“As you’re aware, the university started up its own local paper a few years ago. This year, it will be expanding and people other than students will be able to subscribe or buy a copy.
