By JARED LEONE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIDTOWN – Students involved with the PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs program at Academy Preparatory Center are learning how to report, record and edit video with the help from NNB reporters.
Middle school students are working on stories, developing probing questions, recording interviews and editing video.
“I knew I would want to film things,” said Jazmine Cunningham, who hopes the experience leads to further fame. “I thought it was fun because I want to make things perfect.”
Cunningham, 11, said she has learned about taking multiple shots, how to pick up good audio and the importance of stability.
“You have to have control of yourself and the camera, everything,” she said.
Academy Preparatory Center is a non-profit, private school that offers students a rigorous 11-hour school day. There are about 100 schools across the country involved in the PBS Newshour Student Reporting Labs program. Academy Preparatory Center is one of the few middle schools selected to be part of the program.
The Student Reporting Labs program pairs students with news professionals in the community.
Students in Academy Preparatory Center’s media club are learning the tips and guidance from NNB reporters, said Laura Manke, the media club teacher at Academy Prep.
The students know how to handle the equipment and are taking leadership roles, she said.
“I’ve seen great growth with the class,” Manke said. “(The students are) excited about it.”
NNB reporters helped the class discuss future projects and scout and film an assignment already.
Danielle Von Dreele, 24, has seen their growth as reporters while working with them twice weekly since the start of the school year.
“It makes me feel confident about where journalism is going in the future,” she said.
The students rearrange desks to get space to film interviews for their story recently. They all have assignments and work together.
Cheyenne Romero, 11, enjoys taking photos and already has learned the importance of organization, how to properly set up the camera for filming and how to give direction to get the best out of the on-camera talent.
“I want to learn how to become a better director,” said Cheyenne Romero.
With the help of NNB student-reporters Romero and the other students are well on the way.
About Neighborhood News Bureau
Neighborhood News Bureau is a working newsroom, staffed by University of South Florida St. Petersburg undergraduate and graduate students under the guidance of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies faculty members. The newsroom opened in Midtown, St. Petersburg March 2006. Its mission is to serve the Midtown and surrounding communities of St. Petersburg. For more information, visit http://www.nnbnews.com/ or email nnb@usfsp.edu.
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