BREAKING NEWS...investigative journalism for kids
“Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.” — Andrew Vacchs.
For ages 10-14 years old.
When journalists see something new or different, they want to know what’s happening and why. They try to find out by talking to people and asking tough questions. Journalists shed light on what is happening around them and have their stories printed in newspapers, magazines and read on television.
But…who can be a journalist? Can kids be journalists? Absolutely. In fact most of you are born journalists. Kids notice things that adults have missed. Maybe you want to investigate something that’s been puzzling you. Anything you’re really curious about can be a good subject for a story.
This is the perfect class for kids that have lots of questions about the world around them and want answers.
In this course, we will work with kids to analyze things they may have noticed at school, downtown, anywhere, and then how to investigate those questions: who to interview, how to investigate the issue, and how to piece it all together for a news article. Children will learn the process of writing engaging leads, fact checking, and working with peers to fine tune their articles.
Kids’ final articles will be published in Wilder Arts’ quarterly magazine. Kids will also have the opportunity to record their articles on ORCA media on the last day of class.
(All COVID protocols will be followed, and most classes will be held outside in the Wilder Arts patio, weather permitting.)
Spring 2022
“Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.” — Andrew Vacchs.
For ages 10-14 years old.
When journalists see something new or different, they want to know what’s happening and why. They try to find out by talking to people and asking tough questions. Journalists shed light on what is happening around them and have their stories printed in newspapers, magazines and read on television.
But…who can be a journalist? Can kids be journalists? Absolutely. In fact most of you are born journalists. Kids notice things that adults have missed. Maybe you want to investigate something that’s been puzzling you. Anything you’re really curious about can be a good subject for a story.
This is the perfect class for kids that have lots of questions about the world around them and want answers.
In this course, we will work with kids to analyze things they may have noticed at school, downtown, anywhere, and then how to investigate those questions: who to interview, how to investigate the issue, and how to piece it all together for a news article. Children will learn the process of writing engaging leads, fact checking, and working with peers to fine tune their articles.
Kids’ final articles will be published in Wilder Arts’ quarterly magazine. Kids will also have the opportunity to record their articles on ORCA media on the last day of class.
(All COVID protocols will be followed, and most classes will be held outside in the Wilder Arts patio, weather permitting.)
Spring 2022
“Journalism is what maintains democracy. It's the force for progressive social change.” — Andrew Vacchs.
For ages 10-14 years old.
When journalists see something new or different, they want to know what’s happening and why. They try to find out by talking to people and asking tough questions. Journalists shed light on what is happening around them and have their stories printed in newspapers, magazines and read on television.
But…who can be a journalist? Can kids be journalists? Absolutely. In fact most of you are born journalists. Kids notice things that adults have missed. Maybe you want to investigate something that’s been puzzling you. Anything you’re really curious about can be a good subject for a story.
This is the perfect class for kids that have lots of questions about the world around them and want answers.
In this course, we will work with kids to analyze things they may have noticed at school, downtown, anywhere, and then how to investigate those questions: who to interview, how to investigate the issue, and how to piece it all together for a news article. Children will learn the process of writing engaging leads, fact checking, and working with peers to fine tune their articles.
Kids’ final articles will be published in Wilder Arts’ quarterly magazine. Kids will also have the opportunity to record their articles on ORCA media on the last day of class.
(All COVID protocols will be followed, and most classes will be held outside in the Wilder Arts patio, weather permitting.)
Spring 2022
Mary Cole Mello was a member of the faculty at Union Elementary School in Montpelier from 1972 until her retirement in 2020. Prior to that, she taught at the elementary level in the Boston area.
For more than ten years, she’s been both a writer and a teacher of writing.
Her work has appeared in The Montpelier Bridge, The Vermont Digger and the Trading Post. In 2009, she was long listed for the Fish prize in short fiction ( Fish Publishing, County Cork, Ireland).