Details of Being a Kid Reporter
Some advice from a veteran for those who want to apply.
I have been a Kid Reporter for the Scholastic Kids Press Corps for one amazing year, and I can’t believe how much I have learned about being a reporter!
When you write your article I now know that you should take a lot of notes because you want to remind yourself what the important details are when it comes to writing your article. And I’ve learned how to use those notes. Make sure that you have a main idea in each paragraph, and not just a bunch of details. Come up with a main idea, and piece together your details to make it flow and make sense.
Details, details, and loads of detail! Details are an important part of your article. Details put your readers in the story. You can’t tell a good story without details, so don’t forget them!
After you write your article, you should always go back and revise it. You never know when there’s a misspelled word or a run-on sentence. Also, it helps you make sure that what you’ve written makes sense to your reader and not just to you.
At an event, I make sure that I have a digital voice recorder with me so I can get accurate quotes for my story. When I write my article, I can listen to my recordings and put exactly what was said into the article. It’s essential that you have interesting quotes to support the main idea and details in your report.
Also, don’t be shy. If you’re shy, then you probably won’t be able to interact well with the interviewees. Most people are very friendly and love to answer your questions—especially if you make your questions interesting!
Keep a straight face—and stay objective—at all times while conducting your interview—no matter how excited you are! I had a one-on-one interview with a favorite celebrity once. After the interview, I came to a quiet spot and SCREAMED!
Another thing I like about reporting is that when you go to an event, you get to stand in the press area where you can get advice from older, more experienced reporters. And good advice truly helps!
Kid reporting is really fun! I hope you’ll think so too. Deadline is October 12 to apply, so you better get busy! Get the details by clicking here!
PHOTO: Richard Marcellais, tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa, talks to Scholastic Kid Reporter Alexandra Zhang at the Tribal Nations Conference in Washington, D.C., on November 5, 2009. (Photo Courtesy Alexandra Zhang)
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