Ep 2. The New School Year Begins

The Paper is a documentary-style television series that follows a group of high school students as they navigate their way through the intense and competitive world of journalism. In this episode, titled "The New School Year Begins," viewers get an inside look at the beginning of a new school year at Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Florida.

The episode opens with shots of the school and the excitement in the air as students return to campus after summer break. We hear students chatting and laughing, backpacks zipping open and closed, and lockers slamming shut as the school day commences. The camera then follows a group of students as they make their way to the newsroom, where the school newspaper, The Circuit, is produced.

We're introduced to some of the key players in this episode. There's Amanda, the Editor-in-Chief, who is determined to make this year the best year yet for The Circuit. She's organized, driven, and passionate about journalism. There's also Evan, a veteran staff writer who is curious and enthusiastic about reporting. And then there's Julian, a new student to Cypress Bay who has dreams of becoming a sports writer.

As the students settle into the newsroom, Amanda lays out her vision for the year. She wants the staff to be more proactive about seeking out stories and engaging with the student body. She'd also like to see more collaboration between the newspaper and the school's television station, CBTV. Everyone seems excited and energized by Amanda's ideas, but it's clear that they have a lot of work ahead of them.

The rest of the episode is spent following the students as they work on their first articles of the year. Amanda assigns Evan a story about the school's new wellness program, which he tackles with gusto. Julian gets assigned to cover the football team's home opener, but he's a little intimidated by the prospect of interviewing the players and coaches. The camera captures the students as they conduct interviews, write drafts, and edit their pieces. We see them bounce ideas off each other, struggle with writer's block, and eventually produce finished articles.

Throughout the episode, we also get glimpses into the personal lives of the students. We see them hanging out with friends, chatting with family members, and dealing with the stresses of school. Amanda talks about juggling her duties as editor with her other responsibilities, including being a member of the cheerleading squad. Evan opens up about his struggles with anxiety and how writing for The Circuit has helped him cope. Julian talks about the challenges of starting at a new school and finding his place.

As the deadline for the first issue looms, the students work tirelessly to polish their articles. They stay up late, argue over word choices, and check and recheck their sources. Finally, the day arrives when the newspaper is set to be distributed. The students gather outside the newsroom to watch as their hard work is printed, folded, and stacked into neat piles. There's a palpable sense of excitement and nervousness as they wait to see what the reaction will be.

The episode ends with a shot of the students as they hand out copies of The Circuit to their classmates. We see students flipping through the pages, smiling, and chatting with each other. Amanda looks relieved and proud as she watches from the sidelines. Evan and Julian share a high-five. It's clear that the first issue of the year was a success, and that the students of The Circuit are ready to tackle whatever challenges the rest of the school year may bring.