Starting in 2017, the OH students media Panther’s Paw (print) and PantherTV publications merged to become 42Fifty, the current student medical publication. Under the leadership of OH English Department Chair Amy Howerton and PantherTV adviser Michael Leali, this convergent media program saw several changes. Students chose the convergent media’s new publication’s new name, 42Fifty, based on the high school’s address. Below, please read more about the history of OH’s student media publications.
2020s: 42Fifty continues to grow in its quality of content and production, entering and winning both local and national competitions. In 2023, a podcast lab was introduced and the staffs producing the publication doubled in size. As the program continues to grow, staff members take on more leadership roles and formal staffing assignments became the norm. The publication enjoys memberships to Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and many members have been inducted to the Quill & Scroll Journalism Honor Society. Advisers: Sarah Hands, Amy Howerton
2010s: Broadcast media course (PantherTV publication) and journalism course (Panther’s Paw publication) blended into a convergent media program under the new name 42Fifty, paying homage to the high school’s address. The publication moved to an exclusively online publication with multimedia production including video and podcasts; staff members became active in local and national contests, winning several award and attending national Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association conferences. The program also initiated the first group of students to the national Quill & Scroll Journalism Honor Society under adviser Sarah Hands. Advisers: Michael Leali, Abby Disabato, Sarah Hands
2000s: The Whipping Post publication was renamed The Panther’s Paw, and the print publication became a monthly color print publication costing students 25 cents. The program began memberships to National Scholastic Press Association and the Illinois affiliate, Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association. The publication began entering local and regional contests, winning several awards. Advisers also began members to the Journalism Education Association. Advisers: Amy (Monahan) Howerton, Erin (Kulinski) Drufke, Mark Berry
1990s: Originally titled The Whipping Post, the OH student publication was a bi-semester four-page, print publication with several news articles, one feature, a sports story, student-created crossword puzzles and horoscopes. Print copies cost 25 cents each. Adviser: Judy Cosland
42Fifty is the student media Publication of Oswego High School, Oswego, IL. Stories attributed to 42Fifty are written by editorial staff, or in the case of staff editorial, reflect a quorum of the student staff's ideas and opinions. To learn more about the 42Fifty staff, please see the About or Our Staff page on the website.
