New Kid Reporters Announced!

Seasoned Kid Reporter checks out the new team.

The new team of Scholastic Kid Reporters was announced today. Some of the new reporters have already had stories published. They are all working on an important first assignment about the economy.

I’ll never forget my first assignment. I covered a memorial service in central Florida for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. I then went on to cover the 2008 presidential election, which was an incredible challenge and unforgettable adventure! I even got to go to New York City for Election Day!

I spoke to one of the new Kid Reporters after his first assignment last week. Gowtham Balaji lives in East Brunswick, New Jersey, and is one of the 37 new reporters on the 2009-2010 team. Usually, only 25 new reporters are picked each year.

“We had more applications than ever this year,” said Editor Suzanne Freeman. “The quality of applications was really high, too.”

Gowtham’s first assignment took him to New York City to the Scholastic Headquarters in SoHo. He covered a live webcast featuring all five of the authors of The 39 Clues series. The webcast kicked off the release of Book 6 in the 10-book series.

After the webcast, Gowtham interviewed Jude Watson, author of Book 6: In Too Deep. Gowtham is not only a fan of the 39 Clues series, he is an avid reader of Watson’s Star Wars series as well. Watson clued him in on a big Book 6 secret.

“She said one of the main characters dies,” he said. “I am wondering who.” Watson wouldn’t tell him, but by the time you read this, Gowtham will know. When I interviewed him, he was busy reading Book 6 so he could write the review.

I asked him how he felt when he learned he was one of the recent additions to the Scholastic Kids Press Corp.

“I felt excited because I know I will experience a lot of cool events,” he said. “But I also know it is going to be a lot of work.”

Like all the other members of the press corps, Gowtham is busy working on a new Special Report.

“The Editor asked me to do some research about the economy and how it is affecting my community,” he said. “Next week I have to write about that.”

As more assignments come in, Gowtham is hoping to meet a few celebrities.

“I’m looking forward to meeting famous people and learning about them,” he said. He especially hopes to get an assignment about Major League Baseball. “Since I am a BIG baseball fan, I would like to cover a big news story about the World Series,” he said.

I told him to talk to Ms. Freeman. She’s a big fan, too. She and I went to spring training last March where I interviewed one of the newest members of the Tampa Bay Rays pitching rotation, David Price. The story ran in Scholastic News Edition 4.

I have a few other tips for all the new Kid Reporters coming on board this week. Work hard, have fun, and be prepared for anything!

Oh, yeah! Here are the names of the rest of the Kid Reporters chosen this year:

    Andre Baker, Cleveland, Ohio

    Gowtham Balaji, East Brunswick, New Jersey

    Nick Berray, Washington, D.C.

    Christopher Campbell, Bronx, New York

    N'Naserri Carew-Johnson, Atlanta, Georgia

    Liam Childers, Charlotte, North Carolina

    Samantha Coffey, Sleepy Hollow, New York

    Alexis Cornell, Evanston, Wyoming

    Julia Desmond, Davidson, North Carolina

    Henry Dunkelberger, Washington, D.C.

    Shelby Fairleigh, Horseshoe Bay, Texas

    Kenny Figueroa, Houston, Texas

    Kiera Fobb, Homestead, Florida

    Cecilia Gault, New York, New York

    Alysa Goethe, Bettendorf, Iowa

    Lily Haffey, Lexington, Kentucky

    Emma Hall, Franklin, Tennessee

    Susan Hepburn, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Madeleine Horner, Leucadia, California

    Jonas Hosmer, Potomac, Maryland

    Charlie Kadado, Macomb, Michigan

    Jordan Kahrhoff, St. Peters, Missouri

    Andrew Liang, Alpharetta, Georgia

    Topanga McBride, Windsor, Colorado

    Grace McManus, New York, New York

    Joseph O'Connor, Bayside, New York

    Kaj Lund Olsen, Greenbank, Washington

    Maria Ordoñez, Miami, Florida

    Isabelle Quinn, Woodway Washington

    Miranda Rector, Los Angeles, California

    Mariah Reynolds, Cincinnati, Ohio

    Kayla Rudess, New City, New York

    Erin Sheena, Bellaire, Texas

    Christian Snyder, Reynoldsburg, Ohio

    Jeremy Sutton, Chicago, Illinois

    Maya Williams, Phoenix, Arizona

    Alexandra Zhang, Washington, D.C.

Now get to work, Everyone!

—Shelby Fallin

Comments

[Kid Reporter Danielle A.]

WELCOME NEW KID REPORTERS!!!!

You're going to have such a great, great time being a reporter!
Best wishes!!

Kid Reporter Danielle A.

[Miranda R.]

Hey Everyone! Congrats to my fellow reporters!

[Isabelle]

Congrats to my fellow reporters! It's going to be a great year!

[Mariah R.]

Congratulations to all of the new reporters! I am sure we will all have an exciting year!

[Maureen]

I am so so proud of you Emma Hall.
You are the best
Aunt Maureen
xx

[Michael]

You guys are lucky I wish I was one!!!! WELCOME lookink forward to see you work!!!!!!!

[Umairy]

wonderful to hear about what you guys have come up to. Wish many years in the future the best. Have a wonderful life in Scholastc!

[Nike Air Yeezy]

Having visited so many blogs, I am just attracted by your blog. Not only the rich content but also your unique perspective. Best wishes to you. by Nike air yeezy

[Kiley]

WOW! Great job! I tried to enter, but I'm nine years old! I've already seen lots of your reports and you have amazing writing skills! Well, let's face it; writing ROCKS!

[kieran wolford]

he my name is kieran wolford and i have been interesting in finding more out about reporters. So i was thought what i was hereing sounded like fun and was very persuasive. So how do u sign up ?

[Editor]

Unfortunately the application process for this school year just closed! The 2010=2011 team of reporters will be announced this week.

[Emily]

This seems like a really interesting blog page! I am going to share it with the other students and teachers with whom I work! :-)

[kathryn]

how do u sign up to be a reporter for the 2011-2012 school year...i really enjoy writing, i'm 13 and would be very interested

[Kid Reporter Editor]

Hi Kathryn,

You can find everything you need to apply to be a Kid Reporter at scholastic.com/kidspress.

Thanks!

[kailey]

how can i join the press i would love to thanks

[Kid Reporter Editor]

Hi Kailey,

You can find everything you need to apply to be a Kid Reporter at scholastic.com/kidspress.

Thanks!

[Maryn]

having a great year

[jacob]

how do you sign up to be a kid reporter

[Emma]

Signing up for 2011-2012 year... I'm so nervous!!!!!
~Emma~