Kid Reporter Deadline!

Get busy on your application! Deadline is October 12.

I’ve been a Kid Reporter for a year now. It has been a challenge and it has taught me a lot. So, would it be a good decision for you to apply? If you have any interest at all in writing or reporting, then the answer is: Of Course!

Being a Scholastic Kid Reporter is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Even if you don’t want to become a journalist, being a Kid Reporter teaches you skills that will serve you your entire life, no matter what career path you take.

I learned from each interview, whether it was on a red carpet, by phone, on on video. I learned to speak off and on camera and how to take quick notes and be observant.

On one assignment, I was at Cooper Union in New York City to hear President Barack Obama's speech on the economy and Wall Street. I interviewed some of the dignitaries there for my story. As I asked the same questions over and over, I listened to the answers. That lead to followup questions and a more interesting story.

If you’re thinking about applying to be a kid reporter, get to it! The application deadline is October 12. To find out how to apply, click here!

—Christopher Campbell

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Christopher Campbell covers a fund raiser in the Bronx New York for victims of the January earthquake in Haiti. (Photo Courtesy Christopher Campbell)

Behind Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Actors, Author talk to Scholastic Kid Reporter

Diary of a Wimpy Kid the movie opens in theaters nationwide on Friday. On a rainy Monday in New York, author Jeff Kinney and the main actors of the movie, Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron, held a press day to talk to reporters—including this one!

I had a couple of fun questions for the actors. For instance, I wanted to know if any of them were wimpy when they were in middle school.

“Well, I’m not really a wimpy kid,” said Gordan, who plays the lead character. “Although, I’m small and thin like Greg.”

Author Jeff Kinney had some advice for kids who experience bullying in school.

“I think that they should tell adults about the bullying,” Kinney said. Bullying is one of many main parts of the book and movie. It’s also a big issue in middle school. Don’t feel bad about telling, says Kinney. It’s important to get help.

I had heard a rumor that originally the Wimpy books were intended for adults, so I asked Kinney about that.

“I really had meant for these books to be for adults, kind of looking back on their own childhood,” he said.

His ultimate goal of writing/drawing a funny book was realized either way.

“I wanted to write a story about all of the funny parts of growing up, and none of the serious parts,” he said. “I decided to write a book about what it’s really like to be a kid, or at least what it was like for me.”

The actors and author all told me that they learned something while making this bestselling book into a movie. Gordon says he’s learned that you need to treat people how you want to be treated. Good lesson to know!

“I learned that storytelling in movies is really different from storytelling in books,” Kinney said.

Certainly turning a cross between a comic book and a novel into a live-action movie must have been a challenge. It’s certainly a challenge he and director Thor Freudenthal met. I saw the movie this week before it opened and it’s terrific!

—Christopher Campbell

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Christopher Campbell (from left) with the stars of Diary of a Wimpy Kid Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron and the author of the book, Jeff Kinney. (Photo courtesy Christopher Campbell)

My Experience With Tony Hawk

Hitting the virtual boards with a skating legend. 

When I went to Scholastic’s New York City headquarters, I was so happy—and nervous. It was my first assignment as a new member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps and I was afraid I would mess up.

The conference room we met in was cool. I felt like I was at a debate and discussion with the President! Then I saw Tony Hawk. Boy, is he tall!

I sat right next to the skateboarding legend and felt like screaming. I also felt a little intimidated by all the other editors in the room who were asking questions. It seemed like they had such big questions compared to mine.

Next, when Tony showed me how to play his new game, it was a whole new experience to me. I thought I would mess up and fall, but I even did better than Tony himself!

When he left, Tony gave me his visitor sticker with his name typed next to a picture of Clifford the Big Red Dog. That was cool.

Then it was time to really get to work: I had a game review and an interview story to write! Visiting Scholastic HQ is always fun I found out, because you can leave with free books! I got all six of The 39 Clues that have been published so far. I read them in a week and am now a big fan. Can’t wait for book seven in February!

—Christopher Campbell

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Christopher Campbell and professional skateboarder Tony Hawk prepare to compete on the new video game Tony Hawk Ride! (Photo Courtesy Scholastic Kids Press Corps)