Junior Journalists Unleash Your Inner Reporter!
Grade 6-8

Attention all storytellers and sleuths – join Junior Journalists for an exciting exploration of journalism and publishing! In this engaging and hands-on class, students will dive into the world of news, storytelling, and media, learning the essential skills to become effective journalists. Over three weeks, students will collaborate to create a fully student-created publication that showcases their talents and voices. Beginning with the fundamentals of journalism including basic lessons on POV, ethics, and media literacy, students will learn how to ask the right questions and gather information effectively and accurately. We will analyze real publications to understand different styles, formats, and journalistic techniques, developing critical thinking skills along the way. Students will learn how to conduct interviews with fellow Poly students and faculty, gathering insights and stories for our publication while practicing active listening and effective communication skills. Then, it’s time to write! Your little journalist will put their brainstorming, research, and writing skills to practice through crafting factual news articles, opinion columns, and features. Finally, we will dive into the world of publishing by exploring basic design principles and layout techniques. At the end of the course, each Poly journalist will leave with a printed copy of our class newspaper so they can show off their hard work, and will be ready to take on the exciting world of journalism!
Tech & Video Content: This course will be using laptops or iPads to write and do research.