PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Curriculum

The Student Reporting Labs connect high school students to local PBS stations and news professionals in their community to produce original, student-generated news video reports for the national NewsHour Extra audience. The young people who participate in the project learn how to report, problem-solve, synthesize information and investigate important topics: journalism as a form of learning.

NewsHour Correspondents Address Reporting Labs Students

Correspondents from the PBS NewsHour share expertise and advice with students participating in the Student Reporting Labs project.

Student Reporting Labs Journalism Curriculum (March 2012)

Along with technical instruction on the use of cameras and editing equipment, the Student Reporting Labs program also includes a meaningful focus on understanding the role of journalism in society and developing broader communication skills, including listening, asking questions, public speaking, and finding, analyzing and evaluating the quality of information. See An Interview with PBS NewsHour Producer Anne Davenport.

These flexible lessons can be used in the context of courses in English, social studies, or video production classes and includes critical thinking, analysis and production activities. Each lesson is designed for a 50-minute class with engaging high-interest activities to nurture a sense of purpose and accomplishment. The curriculum can easily be adapted to the McRel Standards , Common Core Standards and ISTE Standards. Download full curriculum (PDF) >

Here are the lessons included in the curriculum:

What Makes a Good Video Report?

Students will learn how to produce quality video reports by paying close attention to how to gather proper audio and visual clips as well as how to critique their work and the work of their peers.

Journalism Ethics, News Judgment, the ABCDEF's of Journalism and Copyright v. Fair Use

Students will explore, engage and develop a thorough understanding of the theories and ethics related to journalism.

Who Makes the News?

Students will understand the role of executive producers, segment producers, reporters, camera operators, sound engineers, grips/gaffers, graphic artists and production assistants, who are planning content, gathering story ideas, selecting sources and publishing breaking news.

The Structure of Broadcast News

Students develop a short oral presentation to pitch a specific idea for a news story. In the process, they consider the relationship between news and lived experience.

Finding Story Ideas

Students develop a short oral presentation to pitch a specific idea for a news story. In the process, they consider the relationship between news and lived experience.

Interviewing: The Art of Asking Questions

Students learn to use the phone to talk to people they don't know. Working in teams of three, a simulation games helps students practice both the art of interviewing and the art of being interviewed.

Facts and Opinions

Students learn the difference between substantiated news facts and informed opinions, news items and editorial content, and where examples of each type typically can be found in today's information outlets.

Teamwork, Planning, Scripting, and Editing

Students learn the art of collaboration. All egos are checked at the door and students learn to listen and respect the input from other members of the news team. While some news organizations have APJs (All Platform Journalists) who work in field alone producing news packages, it is still common practice to collaborate in teams of 2 to 5 production members.

In the Field

Working in the field is not the same as producing a news segment in the studio. In most cases the students assume the responsibility for the overall production, video and sound when going into the field. Rarely will students have the fortune of the teacher's assistance on a location shoot.

Additional Lessons

You'll find many more great resources for teachers in the curriculum section of the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs website.