PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs: Engaging Gen Z With Video Journalism for Students by Students

In this hangout, participants discussed PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs and described their experiences working with its video journalism curriculum in the classroom and developing their own student report videos. Educators, students, and representatives from PBS NewsHour addressed how journalism represents a unique approach to learning in a broad range of topics and creates an opportunity for students to develop strong storytelling, revision and self-efficacy capabilities. Student participants talked about how their own perspectives on the news changed in the process and spoke to the value of learning video production and reporting skills. The students also described how they get their information through social media and predicted what the news of the future will look like. This hangout was part of a special series on News, Literacy and the Digital Age produced in connection to Letters to the Next President 2.0. It was also co-streamed at connectedlearning.tv.

View the Conversation

During the broadcast, the conversation also took place on Twitter using the hashtags #2nextprez and #connectedlearning.

Guests for this webinar included:

• Leah Clapman (host), has spent her career at the intersection of journalism and education. As PBS NewsHour Managing Editor for Education, she created NewsHour Extra with current events resources for teachers, and Student Reporting Labs to build the next generation of public media producers and participants.
• Lynne Bader, is an award winning Senior Producer and Director at WNED | WBFO. For nearly two decades, Lynne has produced and directed short and long form documentaries, performance programs, and pledge programs for both a local and national audience.  Her passion is in working with youth and helping them find their voice through visual storytelling.
• Joel Malley, teaches digital writing at Cheektowaga Central High School and has been a Teacher Consultant with the National Writing Project since 2003.
• Chris Sloan, teaches high school English and media at Judge Memorial in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a teacher consultant with the National Writing Project and KQED Education. In the summer, he is an instructor for the overseas cohort of Michigan State University’s Master’s in Educational Technology program.
• Student Participants:
  • Tatyana Moses, is a senior at Cheektowaga Central High School and produced “Confidence is Key” in Joel Malley’s Digital Writing Workshop course.
  • Mary Oliver, (junior) is an editor for the Bulldog Press at Judge Memorial and producer of the Bulldog Broadcast. She will be a Student Reporting Labs Apprentice at NewsHour this summer.
  • Daja’Vu Romer, is a senior at Cheektowaga Central High School and produced “Confidence is Key” in Joel Malley’s Digital Writing Workshop course.
  • Katie Scott, (junior) is social media director for student publications at Judge. Katie and Mary co-produced Let’s Dance earlier this school year.

Resources for this webinar:

• Fliptastic Pro (mentioned in hangout)

• PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
• PBS NewsHour Extra: News for Students & Resources for Teachers (7-12 Grade Level)
• PBS NewsHour
• About Student Reporting Labs
• Cheektowaga students produce story on transgender classmate (radio segment on NPR’s WBFO)
• Confidence is Key at Student Reporting Labs
• Fliptastic Pro (mentioned in hangout)

Photo/ PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs