On February 5, 2024, juniors and seniors at The Community School (TCS), along with their facilitators Tami Linane-Booey and Nathan Seaburg, partnered with the national student journalism program, PBS Student Reporting Labs. The project, Student Reporters, asked students the question, How can we communicate complex ideas in an authoritative, balanced and effective manner?
Students were first introduced to the idea of journalistic writing and were challenged to craft a news article about a career in media. The students worked vigorously, researching and gathering feedback in order to produce their articles. Local journalists from KREM TV, The Inlander and The Spokesman-Review came to TCS to speak to students about their jobs and give advice.
Next, students looked at all the possible topics for the national contest, a chance to have their news story featured on PBS NewsHour. These groups then began to brainstorm and peruse the internet, narrowing down their main topic. They looked at the broad topics of gun violence, real life lessons, and book bans, and learned how to turn those topics into newsworthy stories. Each reporting team outlined, scripted, filmed and edited 3- to 5-minute news packages. Stories ranged from financial literacy laws, to how local authors deal with book bans, and stories on meditation in schools and the local music scene. Local PBS affiliate KSPS and representatives from Student Reporting Labs as well as Community Minded TV all supported students with expertise and equipment.
With two weeks left before the national contest deadline, students were given the option to take on a new challenge and make their own news hour. On Monday, March 11, this select group of students bused to KREM. Long-time reporter Laura Pepetti gave the students a tour and allowed us to watch her report during the noon broadcast.
Students went to work the next day. A student-run production team formed and jobs and deadlines created. They had three days to create a show! The following Monday, students arrived back at KREM, but this time they took over the studio! The logo, on-air graphics, and script were ready. Now, they recorded their written anchor segments. Laura Papetti and the rest of her team advised TCS students throughout the recordings, and gave meaningful feedback with tips on how to act on camera.
Back at TCS, they put it all together. Students scramble to complete last-minute edits, marketing, and even created public service announcements. A bonus for this team was lead editor, Devin Gibbs. Devin is the first student from TCS to be a part of the KSPS Media Makers internship. He has worked at KSPS all year, learning to edit and produce content. Head of graphics, Josephine Kahler, created the logo and supervised all the graphic contests. Josephine, a senior at TCS, spent their junior year in the graphic arts department at Skill Center.
“This project was a great way to explore new skills, and play to the strengths of different students,” Josephine said.
After editing all the news segments, creating all the graphic transitions, and making the sound just right, it is ready for prime time!