Turn Students Into News Reporters

Everyone wants to feel the thrill of being a news reporter. You're out on the street, meeting people, and watching as something amazing unfolds. The day to day life of a news reporter may not be quite that exciting, but students can learn how basic news reporting techniques can bring something a little different into their own lives.

The best way to get students hooked on reporting is to bring in examples of newspaper articles students would be interested in. You might want to bring in copies of your local paper. They may come with suggested newspaper lesson plans. Often students will see their friends, or people they know, in one of the news stories, and it becomes a more motivating experience.

There are a variety of ways you can teach a news reporting lesson. You can have students write about something that happened in the past, interview people about something that is happening in their community, or have them delve into the reasons why, or why not, certain stories appear in the paper. The lessons below give teachers ways to get started.

 

Elementary News Reporting Lessons:

Reporting Live from the 20th Century: Students learn about news stories, and the various additions, such as maps, charts, and sidebars that accompany front page articles. They learn about various important events from the past century, and pick one to write a news story about. This lesson provides a great way for students to learn about important historical events, and news writing at the same time.

Be A Reporter: This lesson has students learn about a scientists, engineers, and astronauts involved in space travel, and write a profile of one. The concept is a good one, but you would have to go over the way to write a profile before beginning the lesson. Once students understand how to write a profile, they can compile information on a particular space-related scientist, and write an article.

Nellie Bly's Newspaper Club: Students learn about the first female reporter, Nellie Bly, and the time she lived in, the 19th Century. They also learn about news reporting, and conduct an interview. This lesson seeks to get students to appreciate the art and courage of news reporting. They learn about Bly's courage in reporting on unsavory topics, and get an overview of what such a job entails. 

Secondary News Reporting Lessons:

Short But Sweet Writing News Summaries: Students write a summary of a news report. They review the News in Review section of the New York Times, and then produce their own summaries. This a great way to familiarize students with the parts of a newspaper and getting them thinking critically about how editors decide what becomes an article, a news brief, or a picture essay.

To Report or Not to Report: This is a fascinating lesson in which students examine journalistic ethics. They learn about a situation in which a journalist knew about atrocities occuring in Iraq, but did not report on it. They discuss why the reporters did not expose the Hussein regime. A great way for students to use their critical thinking skills, and learn about the challenges of real life journalism.

Angling for a Story: In this lesson students learn that there are a variety of ways to cover a news event. They discuss a particular news story, and use it as a way to discuss how a different angle can bring a story alive. This provides a way for students to look at news reporting as a way to infuse creativity and originality.