WOW!! The example TV news broadcasts that we were given to look at were amazing. The fact that the elementary students basically run the entire program is awesome! I loved the way they had anchors and a production crew as well as "field reporters." Their weekly broadcast is made up of stories that are contributed by teachers and students. What a great way to get the whole school involved and give the students ownership of the program.
The high school broadcast was also great. The set looked like a professional news set. They also gave their students the ability to really own the program.
As for the TV news at my school, it is an every morning broadcast that the media specialist runs. There are two anchors, who are rotated throughout the year, and a production team. Though the media specialist supervises it, it is all operated by the students. They type in the information that will be read on the teleprompter. They are also responsible for getting the stories for the newscast. Our school TV news is the only form of morning announcements, so they deliver all of the information that would normally be given by the principal over the intercom. The news team is only open to 5th grade students, and they have to try out and are selected by the media specialist. They have to have all As/Bs and good behavior to be a part of the team. There are 4 teams, one for each nine week period.
The news program starts with the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. The moment of silence follows that. They then give the lunch choices for the day. After that, the students give any announcements that have been handed their way. Examples would be club meeting dates, principal announcements, or reminders about any special activities that are coming up. They then announce birthdays and Rhino Card winners (a behavioral incentive at our school). The broadcast ends with a "Joke of the Day" segment with jokes submitted by the students.
The news has been a big hit at our school. Not only do the students who get to participate love it, but all of the students love to watch it each morning. They really respond to hearing other students as opposed to adults. I am a huge fan of this program, and from those I have talked to, it has become pretty standard in K12 school.
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I feel like my school is soooo far behind. We talked about starting a school tv news broadcast at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. However, we had added a new wing to our building prior to the start of the school year, and unfortunately, none of the 22 classrooms in the new wing had access to closed circuit television.
ReplyDeleteAll classrooms now have full access to closed circuit and cable television, but this project has fallen by the wayside. Our LST (Local School Technologist) had initiated the project, and it sounds like her plans were very similar to the ones at Amanda's school--the fifth graders would serve as anchors; daily announcements would be delivered; birthdays would be announced; school club dates provided; etc. I know that our prospective fifth graders did have to audition for positions, and they had to have teacher recommendations.
For now--at least until someone else decides to pick up this project again--our announcements are given over the intercom system by one of our administrators. It is sad that this project has not been picked up. You never know, we could have the next Tom Brokaw just waiting to get his...or her big shot.
It is such a great idea to start these programs in the elementary school. Students are learning so many skills that will carry over with them into middle school and high school. These can also be the same students who help to create an amazing, in-depth newscast at the high school level. I know all of this sounds like a lot of work, but it works on communication skills in a real world fashion. The more blogs I read, the more jealous I am. Our school newscast is so mediocre compared to all of these. Our administration really wants to have a daily broadcast, but they aren't willing to have an elective class to provide it.
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