Making a News Report Project!

What is it?

As part of our studies on media, we have been analyzing what the parts of a news story are, as well as identifying the steps a reporter takes to create an interesting news story for the public.

Everyone will be creating their own news reports! Some students may choose to do a newspaper article, and others will choose to do a broadcast news report.

If you are doing a newspaper article, it is best to work on your own. If you are doing a broadcast news report, you may decide to work by yourself or in a pair. No more than two people in any group, please, and you need to work with someone you haven’t done a project with previously.

What are the steps?

  1. Your audience is “students at Suncrest,” so brainstorm a list of news article/report ideas that you could report on. It will need to be something that you will be able to write a full article about, and it needs to be interesting to your audience.
  2. After you have chosen an idea, brainstorm how you will gather evidence and information to help you write the article. Who will you interview? What observations can you make? What research will you need to do? What pictures will you need to take? What data or math numbers can you gather for this article? How might you present the information (graph/chart)?
  3. Begin the research and gathering process. Record your findings in your journal under two journal pages called “News Report Notes.” Take pictures using an iPad, or with a device at home if needed. Make sure you have access to your photos at school by saving them in your email or on One Drive.
  4. If you are doing a newspaper report, use the handout “Writing a News Report,” as well as any news reports you have seen online and in print, as a guide to writing all of the parts of a news report. Make an outline for your article first (a list of what you will talk about) and then begin drafting it in your journal or on the computer.
  5. If you are doing a broadcast news report, make sure you watch some news reports online, or some live interviews done by reporters. Then, make an outline for your article (a list of what you will talk about) and begin drafting it in your journal or on the computer.
  6.  After you make a rough draft, make a final copy. Make sure to edit it by reading it aloud. Have a peer also edit it carefully for you. Fix any errors.
  7.  If you are doing a newspaper report, begin using the tools available on Microsoft Word or any other program you prefer from the Microsoft Suite, to begin the layout of your article. Make sure you think about spacing, the format of the headline versus the body of the article, pictures you want to include, and any charts or graphs that may be helpful.
  8.  If you are doing a broadcast report, begin practicing saying your script out loud. Practice at home in front of an audience. Decide how you are going to present your report — in the studio or live on the scene? Do you need a microphone or a news reporter’s desk? What kind of background might you need? What kind of costume will you wear to show you are a reputable reporter? What kind of voice and tone do news reporters use?
  9.  Share your presentation. For newspaper reports, share your report with me so we can share it with the community. For broadcast reports, present your news report in class.

What are Ms. D’s expectations?

  • I can choose a topic for my news story that is of interest for my intended audience.
  • I can use critical-thinking skills to gather factual information for my news article or broadcast.
  • I can conduct interviews with students or staff to gather information for my report.
  • I can create my story using all of the key elements of a news report.
  • I can express my ideas clearly in writing, editing carefully for conventions, and using complex sentences, conjunctions, and transition words.
  • I can use tools such as interesting vocabulary, an appealing layout, numbers/charts/graphs, props, or an expressive voice to better communicate my ideas and catch the audience’s attention.
  • I can collaborate well with a partner if I choose to do the project with one.
  • I can share ideas about my local community in a news story format.

When is it due?

Presentations and articles submitted no later than April 6th, as we will be moving on to another unit at that time.