A lack of real-world experience is one of the weaknesses of many journalism programs or school classes. A school newspaper club is a great way to get this experience. Students can gain experience in various journalism styles and build confidence for future careers.
A newspaper club can help your students learn print journalism and photojournalism. These classes offer specific areas of expertise that can be integrated into school newspaper clubs: features, news, reviews, and columns.
PRINT JOURNALISM
Print journalism refers to all things printed (such as a newspaper). Your editors and reporters are the people you need to know. They will be responsible for writing the copy and editing it.
To gain real-world experience, students can use a newspaper as a tool for print journalism. They can write about local and school events. Interviews can be conducted with administrators, teachers, students, and other members of the community. They will learn to correctly research facts, verify, and find solutions to contradictory information.
A newspaper club is a great way to help your journalism program. Students can learn the skills and knowledge necessary for journalism.
PHOTOJOURNALISM
Sometimes, a photojournalist is paired with a journalist in print. A photojournalist often tells a story through pictures. The right photo can evoke specific emotions and is worth many thousand words. You can think of some of history’s most iconic images:
- The soldiers raised the flag at Iwo Jima.
- The sailors randomly kiss and gab nurses upon their return from war.
- The flag that firefighters hung on the twin towers’ twisted steel beam, with the rubble behind it.
Photojournalists do this. Photographers capture the moment in an image. They can tell a story with their pictures. Students can capture these moments at school through a newspaper club. Students can develop an eye for these moments and learn how to catch them.
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
This journalism seeks out the truth about a subject or individual. This often means sifting through information in a way that gives the issue the most accurate view. Investigators must cut through the clutter and find the essential facts. Then, they should present the information objectively.
Investigator reporters often face difficult people, such as friends and family, who are not cooperative. They need to accept rejection and be objective in presenting their uncovered facts. They must also ensure that they verify every point from all sources before they give them in writing.
Investigative journalism is not a severe undertaking in a school setting, but it will allow students to expand their investigative skills. It is impossible to underestimate the power of the newspaper club.
NEWS JOURNALISM
Give the facts as they exist—no interpretation or questioning. There is no speculation. It’s just facts. Information is its core.
The news carries these stories. People want to know what happened, so they read the article. This information is more common in a school newspaper than you realize. Because of the high-speed information age, most events are well-known to students. Students know who won the game and became class president, among other things. These details are disseminated via texts, calls, and Twitter.
In a newspaper setting, it is essential only to write news articles about things that few people know.
REVIEW JOURNALISM
It’s easy enough. It’s easy. Take any product, movie, book, or other mass-produced item and write your opinion. Mainly, your review must be relevant to the school and its audience. Reviewers can have a significant impact on readers. Review school rules, policies, academics, and sports teams. This category has a lot to offer.
The writer will not try to conceal their opinions but rather present the pros and cons of each item.
COLUMN JOURNALISM
Personal opinion shines here. This type of writing is where students can let their personality shine. While credibility is essential, students can still challenge the status quo, write criticisms, offer thoughts about academic policies, and spark controversy within limits.
FEATURE JOURNALISM
Sometimes known as feature writing, it is a mixture of all the above. It includes interpretation, predictions, and thorough research. The writer’s personality is reflected in the writing style. However, it must be done within the context of factual facts.
These articles are the longest because they engage readers in fluid and dynamic writing pieces. In schools, feature articles address some of the most well-known aspects of school life, such as dress code, academic requirements, politics within the administration or school board, controversial lesson plans, and so forth.