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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV PF Sentinel Student Journalists
HEADLINE: How American student journalists fill the void after private media folds
TEASER: In Maryland, student journalists team up to help an established newspaper thrive
DATE: 05/14/2024 at 8:30am
BYLINE: Robin Guess
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE:
VIDEOGRAPHER: Nazir Afzali
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Steve Barogona, Newhouse, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Library of Congress
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:30
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[In the United States, each year there are fewer news organizations covering local communities, even near the nation’s capital. Some high school journalists are trying to help make up for the shortage. Robin Guess reports from Montgomery County, just outside Washington.
((NARRATOR))
Walter Johnson High School’s newsroom and its student journalists cover news in Montgomery County, Maryland, which has seen a decline in local media outlets, even though it’s one of the wealthiest counties in the nation.
((For radio: This is Seyun Park, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief))
((Seyun Park, Student Journalist)) ((Male, English))
“I think community news is really important because in our area we used to have so many newspapers.”
((NARRATOR))
Twenty years ago, eight newspapers covered this region. They all folded.
Except for the Montgomery County Sentinel, founded in 1855. It was struggling during the coronavirus pandemic and stopped printing editions in 2022.
But it survives online through a partnership it launched with these students who write and report for the Sentinel.
((NARRATOR))
Here in the newsroom for the student newspaper called “The Pitch,” the student journalists publish online ... this Sentinel newspaper and magazine. It’s not just campus news.
Their stories focus on the community news of interest to students, such as commentaries on racism, reporting on education funding and the latest in local sports.
((For radio: This is Mia Halper, a student journalist at The Pitch.))
((Mia Halper, Student Journalist)) ((Female, English))
“The future of journalism is not as secure as it once was, and it has been changing a lot over the years and we as student journalists have a new place in that. “
((NARRATOR))
Sometimes the Sentinel requests stories from the students with their advisers’ approval, but the outlet usually picks from what students have published in the Pitch.
((For radio: This is Wendy Borrelli the journalism advisor and teacher at Walter Johnson High School))
((Wendy Borrelli, Journalism Adviser)) ((Female, English))
“It evolved into this current process where when they see something they like that they think will impact the community, they reach out for permission. It just was a perfect fit.”
((For radio: This is Mark Kapiloff, publisher, of the Montgomery County Sentinel.))
((Mark Kapiloff, Montgomery County Sentinel Publisher)) ((Male, English))
“We are honored that they feel that we are the proper place to give them a voice. I learn from them all the time. It’s not just the high school journalists, but we also have the college journalists.”
((NARRATOR))
Researchers at Northwestern University say more than half of all U.S. counties now have limited access to reliable news and information. High school and university students are increasingly seen as one way to fill the gap.
((For radio: Again here’s Seyun Park))
((Seyun Park, Student Journalist)) ((Male, English))
“So for a publisher to take our work seriously and acknowledge what we are doing is the real deal it really does mean a lot for me and all the student writers working hard on publishing these news articles. “
((NARRATOR))
Allison Xu was named the state of Maryland’s high school journalist of the year. Sentinel readers know her byline.
((For radio: Again Allison Xu the On-line editor-in-chief at Walter Johnson High School))
((Allison Xu, Student Journalist)) ((Female, English))
“I look for issues in my community that I think are worth sharing or might be underrepresented in terms of news coverage it currently has. So, in the past I’ve written about issues like anti-Asian hate, especially when it was rising during the pandemic, as well as substitute shortages that schools across the county were experiencing.”
((NARRATOR))
And while many are too young to vote, the national U.S. elections in November are going to be a key focus.
((For radio: Again student journalists Seyun Park ))
((Seyun Park, Student Journalist)) ((Male, English))
“Supporting student journalism is so important because of the work we are doing, but also because of the work we are going to be doing in the future.”
((NARRATOR))
For high schoolers, the primary concerns are often football games, proms and their social media accounts. But in this newsroom, their focus goes beyond the campus and leaves a mark on their community.
((Robin Guess VOA News.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 14, 2024 09:45 EDT
BylineRobin Guess
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
