Kid Reporter Deadline Near

Apply to be a Kid Reporter by October 5!

Hi everyone, I’m Danielle Azzolina, and I’ve been a kid reporter for Scholastic for almost two great years now.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that Scholastic has changed my life. Why do I feel this way? Because through Scholastic I’ve had once-in-a-life time opportunities and memories that I will never ever forget! I’ve had the chance to practice something I love: to write and to interview interesting people. And I’ve interviewed some very interesting people!

Whether or not you want to pursue a career as a journalist, as a Scholastic Kid Reporter, you will learn a lot of skills that will help you to become a better writer, researcher, and interviewer.

One thing I learned was that thinking fast and having questions prepared in advance are important.

When I went to cover the most recent Harry Potter movie premiere in New York City, the actors were coming down the red carpet pretty quickly. There wasn’t much time to go over my questions before I talked to each person, so it was important to have questions already in my head. I had written out a variety of questions in advance and then practiced asking them before I even got there. I didn’t need to read them out each time a new person came up to me on the red carpet.

This proved helpful when I had about a 10-second advance notice that director David Yates was coming my way. I was so familiar with my questions, that I had time to think up a new one for him—one I thought would get an interesting response. And it worked! That’s why thinking on your feet is important. It’s something I’m getting better at with each new experience.

For your application, I’d suggest writing about something you care about or know a lot about, because that makes your stories more interesting. Don’t be afraid to express yourself, that’s what makes your work different from all the rest. I’ve learned that the best applications have a lot of detail and specifics.

If you’re going to apply, get to work now! Deadline for the applications must be postmarked or emailed to kidspress@scholastic.com no later than October 5!

For specifics on how to apply, click here. You have to have ALL the elements they ask for in on time. Remember: Details and Deadlines are the keys to being a good reporter.

—Danielle Azzolina

PHOTO: Scholastic Kid Reporter Danielle Azzolina interviews Daniel Radcliffe, star of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, at the premiere in New York City. (Photo Courtesy of Scholastic Kids Press Corps.)

Lights, Camera, READ!

Reading in the spotlight on NBC Today Show’s Al Roker's Book Club.

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be on TV: what it’s like behind the sets, what does a “green” room look like, and how does it all comes together to make a show. I found out this week when I became one of six kids in Al’s Book Club for Kids. The show airs once a month on NBC’s Today Show.

Al Roker, who is really funny and super nice, is the host of the book club.  Each month we will meet to discuss a different author and book. We also get to ask the featured author questions.

The whole experience was very exciting for me. After arriving the morning of the show, I was taken into the studio’s green room, which, by the way, is NOT green! It’s the room where guests can relax before going on the air.

As soon as I got there a woman approached me. I recognized her from a photo on the back of a fantastic book I had just read: she was the day’s featured author, Michelle Paver!

As we chatted, she said that I reminded her of herself when she was my age.  She signed my copy of her book and stamped it with an awesome wolf footprint that she had traced from an actual wolf track!

The featured book for this first show was the first in the series The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. The title is Wolf Brother. Ms. Paver was very, very interesting to talk to.

Then I joined the other kids on a couch. As we started talking, I knew I was making five new friends. The producer, Amanda Marshall, took us upstairs where there was another smaller green room that our parents waited in while we went to the set. I was so excited because I really loved the book we were discussing and I’ve always dreamed of being on TV.  I was also having fun getting to know the other kids.

We were taken to the set for the Book Club and told which bean bag chairs to sit on. We were given microphones and were reminded to speak loudly and clearly.  Ms. Paver gave us some cool artifacts to pass around that she had collected on her journeys. She handed us a real stone-age chiseled axe head, an antler, and reindeer hide mittens. The mittens were the same the type Torak, the main character in the book, would have worn.

Then Mr. Roker came in and started joking around with us. He told Tatiana, who was wearing the mittens at the time, that she should have a doctor check out her skin condition. He made us all laugh!  I suggested that we all wish each other good luck and so we counted down and said good luck in unison.  Then the crew counted down from 10 seconds, 9 seconds…down to 1 second and then “LIVE” and we knew we were on the air!

After the show was over we met up with our parents back in the green room. We were all excited and happy after the tension of being on the air.  In the green room the Ms. Paver talked with us some more and we took pictures with her and with each other. 

Ms. Paver is so interesting and definitely one of the best writers whose work I’ve ever read!!  I had so many questions to ask her and she was happy to answer them. I was fascinated with how she writes and what inspires her.  I had so many questions that she agreed to let me interview her just for Scholastic! I can't wait!

The Today Show gave each of us the other books in the series—five books in all! I did not expect that, but it sure was awesome!! I’ve already read up to chapter four in the second book, Spirit Walker. I’m writing a book review on Wolf Brother because I have to tell you guys how great this book is!

—Danielle Azzolina

Photo: Danielle Azzolina (front left) and the other members of Al Roker's Book Club for Kids in the Green Room at NBC studios in New York with author Michelle Paver. (Photo SKPC)

A Magical Experience with Harry Potter

Juggling the rolls of fan and reporter are sometimes hard, but worth the effort!

 Do you know the feeling when a dream comes true?  It’s a fantastic feeling!  It was like that for me on Thursday evening because I was lucky enough to report at the “Red Carpet” for the premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! I also got the feeling of a job well done, once I calmed down, transcribed my interviews, and wrote my story. Let me tell you about it.

All last year in my fifth grade class my teacher taught us about the Harry Potter books.  We read them in novel study class and examined the characters in depth. Our classroom was set up like Hogwarts.  I fell in love with the books and the world of Harry Potter.

So, to be at this premiere was extra special for me.  My family and I drove into the city, about a 45 minute ride, and when we saw all the people behind the barriers waiting for the stars to arrive my excitement grew! But I had to remember, reporter first, fan second.

I checked in at the media station where I met up with Scholastic editor Tyler Reed. Tyler and I then found the marker along the red carpet that read “ SCHOLASTIC.” That was my place to stand and interview the actors.  Each member of the media was assigned a location along the carpet. Next to me, I made friends with a reporter from Seventeen magazine and on the other side was AMC.  I spotted reporters I’ve seen on TV. It was amazing to be there. I learned a lot just watching them at work.

Tyler was so fantastic to work with and I hope I can work with him again sometime.  We went over the questions I had prepared and took in the whole scene looking for details for my story.

I wanted to see, hear, and even smell everything around me; I wanted to remember everything about this night, not just for me, but for my story. There was a lot to take in. The images of the new movie were on huge posters that lined the red carpet. Just seeing the red carpet, which was freshly vacuumed and ready for entertainment royalty was thrilling. I couldn’t help but put one foot on it, just for a minute.

I studied how the news crews set up and filmed their introductions: “I’m so and so here at the Premiere of the Harry Potter Movie, Half Blood Prince....”  They filmed the introduction over and over until they got one they liked. I saw other reporters going over their questions too. That was comforting to me—I wasn’t the only nervous one!

The fans lining the street wore Harry Potter costumes and held up signs like “Marry Me, Harry”!  I knew things were beginning to roll when Daniel Radcliffe’s car stopped and let him out. The yelling and screaming was so loud. He walked along and signed autographs and talked with the fans. Then other cars pulled up and were also greeted with loud cheers and screaming. I think my heart started to thump a little harder and faster!

Tom Felton, who plays Malfoy, ran down the street with his arms out like he was flying and he probably felt like he was. The crowd went wild!

For the first time in my so-far short career, I got to use a real reporter’s microphone. I was loving the whole thing. I interviewed stars like David Yates the director (my future job I hope), and David Heyman the producer, and cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Warwick Davis, and  Freddie Stroma. Yes, I am still pinching myself!

I was so excited and must admit nervous too. Before I got to ask my two questions to Daniel Radcliffe, I told him it was an honor to interview him because I LOVE the Harry Potter series and LOVE the movies and I think he is an amazing actor. He was so polite and nice and he said, “Wait till you read all of them, they get more and more exciting, and the movies too!”  (I’ve only read two. I have a lot to look forward to!)

Every reporter there wanted his attention, which they tried to get by shouting at him. He told them nicely to hold on and then he re-focused on me and let me ask him the two questions I’d prepared. It was really great!  (I’m also glad I told him in advance I had two questions.)

Even though I was excited and a fan; I had to get my job done and get in the questions I wanted to ask for Scholastic.  So, I moved from fan to reporter and did my job. Then when we walked away, I let go just a little and soaked it all in. I talked to Daniel Radcliffe!

But then it was back to work. Other stars were coming down the red carpet and I had to be ready.

Seeing and speaking with some of my most favorite actors when they are not playing the character I know them for was really interesting. They still seemed like Harry, Hermione, and Ron to me! I think because they make those characters so real.

After everyone walked the red carpet and that part of the excitement was over I talked to Tyler about how this was the most FANTASTIC day of my life!  He laughed and said he thought it went really, really well and was happy I had such a great time.

Then I found my friends who came up with me and we all went out to a restaurant around the corner for dinner and ice cream.  My friend and I talked about how amazing it was to be there. We got home about 10:30 that night.  My story was already reeling in my head and I had a hard time getting to sleep. My copy was due the next day and there was a lot to write about. Check it out here!

—Danielle Azzolina

PHOTO: Scholastic Kid Reporter Danielle Azzolina interviews Daniel Radcliffe, star of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, at the movie premiere in New York City Credit: Photo Courtesy of Scholastic Kids Press Corps