Photography Courtesy of Julian Lucas 2013
“Pepper”

The Pomonan, being a recently founded magazine, can be very helpful in addressing significant issues that are local to Pomona. In Pomona, a pressing issue is drug and substance abuse. A statistic from a local organization called Bridge to Treatment states that Pomona faces challenges with a substantial homeless population and individuals struggling with addiction and substance use disorders, many of whom are among the 90,000 patients treated annually at the Pomona Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department. This demonstrates that substance abuse is a serious issue in Pomona that can cause harm to many people. A platform like the Pomonan can effectively raise awareness about this issue through diverse viewpoints and multimedia.

When we look at the Pomonan, we see a unique style being utilized. The magazine focuses on issues local to Pomona, uses visual representations of problems through photos, and includes art that conveys relevant themes. This sets the Pomonan apart from other sites, which often limit themselves to a single style or lack a defined approach. Unlike the Pomonan, traditional media sites often fail to include the unique perspectives of community members and compelling multimedia elements. When addressing an issue as crucial as substance abuse, these aspects must be incorporated to raise awareness effectively.

As mentioned earlier, inclusivity and community voices are essential. Voices from those personally affected by certain issues can enhance readers' perspectives, fostering greater empathy and willingness to act. For instance, in the case of substance abuse, many people in Pomona can relate to its effects. From conducting surveys, I’ve noticed that a significant number of people in Pomona have a connection to the issue of substance abuse—whether through the passing of family members, personal experiences, or witnessing homelessness on busy streets. Furthermore, by allowing community members to share their experiences and solutions regarding substance abuse, others can build trust and gain awareness of potential solutions, such as helpful programs.

For similar platforms to address this issue effectively, they could adopt the strategies used by the Pomonan. They can encourage community involvement in tackling the problem and raising awareness. By sharing media—such as videos, photos, and art—similar to the Pomonan, other news platforms could also bring attention to this issue. Additionally, they can highlight solutions to substance abuse by promoting awareness of rehabilitation centers, support groups, community clinics, and individual therapy opportunities available in Pomona.

The Pomonan is an outstanding and unique platform that brings awareness to important issues in Pomona. By using strategies such as multimedia and amplifying the voices of the local community, it effectively covers a variety of topics impacting the city. However, despite its success, there is still room for the Pomonan to expand its efforts, especially in addressing the serious issue of substance abuse. By strengthening its focus on this matter, the Pomonan could have an even greater impact and play a more significant role in driving positive change within the community.

Students in Pomona High School's AP Economics and Government class have exhibited their understanding of real-world issues by writing insightful op-eds, photo essays, and film shorts for The Pomonan. Combining critical analysis with a touch of journalism, these submissions explore topics at the intersection of economics and government while fostering meaningful engagement with their community. Encouraged by their teacher Mr. Hangan to think deeply and articulate their perspectives, these young writers have demonstrated creativity, civic awareness, and a growing appreciation for the power of the written word in shaping public discourse.

News sites like the Pomonan provide a unique point of view on news. In today’s world, media consumption is diverse and broad. However, the Pomonan provides a detailed narrative of the stories in the city of Pomona. The site tells stories of homelessness and sex education, which are prominent in Pomona. It tackles these subjects in depth and cultivates a deeper understanding. This approach to the storytelling of the articles on the website produces an interesting point of view about living in Pomona.

The difference between the Pomonan and traditional news outlets is how they tackle topics such as prostitution. While news stations take a systematic and algorithmic approach using statistics and broad opinions, the Pomonan offers a deeper real-world perspective. News stations can oversimplify topics, which can take away a sense of urgency and have a more robotic approach. The Pomonan uses different perspectives from different people who all have their unique approaches to writing experiences. All these different articles and authors allow for a more immersive experience when opening the website and reading from the countless articles with the visual storytelling of Pomona that news outlets could not cover, which allows for this deeper connection to the site and readings.

The inclusivity of the Pomonan is a defining feature that allows the reader to further immerse and incorporate deeper thinking into the articles. The Pomonan allows groups with little voice to be heard louder by the majority of people. This diversity can invoke feelings within readers, differentiating itself from traditional news outlets. Journalism can be defined within the Pomonan as the reporting of current events happening around the journalist. This inclusivity is why the Pomonan is reaching more and more people because of the new defining voices on subjects that not many people were informed of before, empowering more people to seek out this media, which journalists can supply, about topics that can be gritty.

Similar platforms can take inspiration from the Pomonan’s approach to media reporting/journalism, tackling various social issues such as prostitution and the stigma following mental health. Similar platforms can focus on these issues by writing articles discussing the prevalence of these issues in Pomona and how to proceed as a community. Art pieces, written articles, and opinions by professionals can help give a discerning opinion on issues surrounding communities, which can help readers develop a better understanding of their own city. Open discussions and input from the community can help other websites write/describe issues in the community that could not have been tackled previously, offering a distinct sense of exclusivity.

In conclusion, platforms like the Pomonan illustrate how forms of media can change and how this change can be more impactful for readers to learn about the community. They provide a better understanding than traditional forms of media, which may not delve into topics that the Pomonan and others do. The future of journalism is in the hands of these websites that provide this media, as they are the most engaging and impactful.

Students in Pomona High School's AP Economics and Government class have showcased their understanding of real-world issues by writing insightful op-eds for The Pomonan. Combining critical analysis with a touch of journalism, these submissions explore topics at the intersection of economics and government while fostering meaningful engagement with their community. Encouraged by their teacher to think deeply and articulate their perspectives, these young writers have demonstrated creativity, civic awareness, and a growing appreciation for the power of the written word in shaping public discourse.

The Pomonan: Raising Awareness on Substance Abuse

The Pomonan: Redefining Local Journalism Through Inclusive Storytelling