INNISFAIL – There is a new fourth estate at Innisfail Middle School chomping at the bit to be eager news hound scribblers.
Forty-five Grade 8 students from two classes were broken up into four-member groups to create 11 four-page newspapers.
The group newspapers were the centerpiece of a six-week Journalism/Newspaper Project, facilitated by the editor of the Innisfail Province and graphic artist Jennifer Bath-Yofonoff. The project, which began in early February and ended in mid-March, was an important component of the Grade 8 Language Arts curriculum.
When first assembled, few students had ever given thought about a career in the time-honoured profession.
“But just seeing how focused the kids were on their assignments, coming together and collaborating, I know for a fact there would be more interest now than before because they had such a real life experience working with you guys so closely,” said Grade 8 teacher Amanda Oslund, whose students learned alongside those from the class of teacher Melissa Johnson.
A student editor, who worked with a news reporter, a columnist and a sports scribe, led each group. Students would write. They would take photographs. They would learn to be creative by thinking outside the box.
“I learned there was lots of components with constructing a newspaper and there is a lot of work you have to put in to make one,” said student Kayla Thibault, a columnist for Group 10. “Some parts I felt were really challenging and I had to think outside the box and really use my head.”
Student Kylee Nimmo, who was appointed editor for Group 7, said one challenging component was to make sure group members were all on task, doing their own work and not relying on her, and handing in their assignments by deadline.
“Once we all got on task I felt everybody was engaged in it and we all worked together,” said Nimmo. “You had to be able to organize certain things. You didn’t want your paper to be messy or look unorganized. You have to have that skill. Another skill you have to have is to be able to take information and make it into an article.”
Johnson said the project was also an opportunity for students to learn skills not necessarily confined to the newspaper industry that would be valuable to students for any profession.
“They needed to make sure their team was focused and everything was ready to go for when you guys arrived,” said Johnson, adding editors were given the chance to hone leadership skills. “That was huge for them because one of the things we have been working on is time management and making sure they are being accountable to do their jobs.”
And when it was all over the young scribes had made their first leap into the newspaper industry with skills that will also be fully adaptable for today’s increasingly dominant digital news world.
“In spite the fact things are moving more towards a more digital age I don’t really see that any of the concepts taught would ever be obsolete,” said Oslund, who would like to have the project returned next year. “It would definitely be something I would actively pursue. It has been a valuable skill for these students to learn.”
