Last Saturday, while attorneys delivered arguments and witnesses took the stand, courtroom journalists Page Krensavage and Allison Wright sat in the jury box, focused not on competing in the trial, but on documenting it.
As part of the 45th Annual California Mock Trial Finals in Oakland, Krensavage and Wright took on the role of courtroom journalists, representing San Mateo County. They observed a trial between Menlo School and Dos Pueblo HS, taking notes as the case unfolded. Rather than reporting on a high school competition, their task was to cover the trial as if it were real, interviewing attorneys and writing their articles after the proceedings.
Wright described the time pressure and support system behind their writing, saying, “It was definitely stressful … but I’m really glad we had our moms and Mr. Tomczak and Mr. Rojas to help us. They were really helpful with giving us feedback and editing our articles as we wrote, so I think we definitely put our best work forward.”
After four years in the mock trial program, Krensavage is familiar with the courtroom. Reflecting on her experience covering the finals as a journalist, rather than an attorney, she said, “Going from being an attorney to being a journalist who’s competing in states has been very transformative and tested my skill set. Being a journalist requires you to think on your feet in a way that’s very different than being an attorney. As a journalist, you have to think 10 steps ahead and plan out how your article is gonna sound and bring pieces together for the article on the spot while they are being presented.”
The competition concluded on Sunday, with awards. Krensavage and Wright were among more than 30 courtroom journalists competing at the finals, marking NDB’s third appearance in this category. Although they did not place, they showcased dedication and skill in courtroom journalism.
The weekend also recognized NDB Mock Trial Team Coach Jonathan Tomczak as the Adult Advocate of the Year.
“It’s very gratifying, but honestly, it’s a team award because a lot of it had to do with the immersion program, and that doesn’t happen without the students on the mock trial team who make it happen. So, I’m grateful to those who nominated me, but really it’s an award for all of us,” said Tomczak.
From the jury box to a tight deadline, the weekend placed Krensavage and Wright in a fast-paced, real-world reporting environment.
