Kid Reporter Deadline Oct. 12
What this Kid Reporter learned from his experience.
I enjoyed every story I covered as a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. I learned quickly that you really have to do your homework before you attend an event and know all your facts about the subject you are writing about or the person you are interviewing.
I like to do lots of research on the person or story so that when I’m coming up with questions I can use what I’ve learned to write more interesting questions. The better your questions, the better your answers, the better your story!
On my first story I had to interview an artist and I stuck to the questions that I had prepared. I learned, however, that it’s more important to listen carefully to the person’s answers because sometimes you can come up with a great question you hadn’t thought about based on what they are saying.
I actually learned a lot about reporting by covering a story with Bob Costas, the NBC sportscaster. He told me that reporters or sportscasters should be well read and very knowledgeable about the subjects they are covering. I also learned not to look at my questions during the interview, but to stop and listen to the person giving me the answers.
One of the things I loved about this year was that I got to review new video games, interview interesting people, and attend really fun events. The stories I covered ranged from a robotics competition at the Javits Center in New York City to interviews with professional baseball players Ike Davis and Keith Hernandez at Citi Field.
My favorite story that I covered was the Topps Attax event at CitI Field, because it gave me the chance to meet and interview Davis, a rookie Mets player. It was very cool to have a chance to ask him questions because I’m a huge fan and he is such a nice guy. I think It’s something I will remember forever because I’m a baseball fan. What could be more interesting than meeting someone who just a few months before was plucked from the minor leagues and put under the big league spotlight?
Being a Kid Reporter is like having a job while going to school. You have to be professional, prepared, and organized.
I always think that when I’m working as a reporter, I’m not just Joseph O’Connor, I’m also representing Scholastic. When I leave an event or interview, I want people to think, “Hey, that kid was really on the ball.”
Think you might want to be a Kid Reporter? Now is the time to apply! Click here for the application process. And get busy. Deadline is October 12.
PHOTO: Met's rookie Ike Davis and Kid Reporter Joseph O'Connor at Citi Field in Queens, New York. (Photo Courtesy Joseph O'Connor)
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