10 Story Ideas for Your School News Show | November 2024

Dave Davis, director of the ASB Workshop, advised a high school newsmagazine for 34 years. Here are 10 story ideas your school news show can produce this month.

Brace Yourself: A whopping 80% of teenagers in the U.S. will wear braces or Invisalign at some point in their life. There might be a good story here. What if you are a family with three kids, and they all need braces? What about the cost? Most kids wear braces for at least two years. How annoying/inconvenient is it? Why are some opting for Invisalign? Some kids have braces at a younger age, then have to get them again. There are numerous angles, and if you get an orthodontist to talk about it, do not be afraid to push them a little about the expense. Another angle: Adults who decide to get braces in their 30s, 40s, 50s, even in their 60s. It happens.

Those Beverage Bottles: You have to have one in 2024…your own water bottle. And an old favorite, the Stanley, re-emerged on the scene and became a must-have for many teens and adults. There is a long history here: https://www.stanley1913.com/blogs/my-stanley/old-stanley-vs-new-stanley-whats-really-changed-in-the-unbreakable-bottle “The Quencher” hit the popular culture in 2016. Is it a status symbol? Can you find one of the old-fashioned Stanley bottles still in use by older family members? What other bottles are competing for your dollar?

Thanksgiving Things: The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 as a harvest festival. It included 50 Pilgrims, 90 Wampanoag Indians, and lasted three days. Historians believe that only five women were present. More Thanksgiving history here: https://venngage.com/blog/thanksgiving-fun-facts/ Is this holiday about the food, the football, the parade, and are we actually “giving thanks” when we gather? Ask teens about the traditions at their house. Maybe cover some of the local places that provide a hot meal to those less fortunate every year on Thanksgiving. There are many people who spend their Thanksgiving doing that “giving” part. It can make for a heartwarming story.

Daylight Savings Time: It has been debated frequently in recent years—do we need to get rid of it? Adopt it year-round? You can find some of the effects of DST here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37578383/ You can find sleep experts at most hospitals and some specialized clinics. You can also find experts in your hallways. How does it impact teens and their routines/sleep habits? We all “fall back” in November. Is it a good thing? (The exceptions out there—pockets in the U.S. where they do not do DST—present a chance to cover this story from that unique angle…some teens in those areas might do a Zoom interview about it).

Fantasy Football League Punishments: It is not enough that your fantasy football team is bad. If you actually come in last in your league, chances are, you will receive a punishment. Those fantasy league punishments can be quite creative, but some go too far. Teens who participate will probably proudly tell you about the punishments their league sets up for its losers. Some background here: https://www.technicianonline.com/culture/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-fantasy-football-punishments/article_f717924a-7adf-11ef-92c0-bb3d445449a6.html

Veterans: On November 11, we celebrate Veterans Day in the U.S. This can be a truly inspirational day for many. As we celebrate all those who have served, find a unique angle. Maybe cover one veteran, like a faculty member who might be honored at an assembly. Attend a local ceremony. A parade. Sometimes young people miss the meaning of Veterans Day. Help them appreciate it a little more.

NEETs: It’s a relatively new term: Not in Education, Employment, or Training. In the U.S. 14.4% of young people aged 15-29 are NEETs. And more young people are living at home with their parents than at any time since the Great Depression. Talk to a school counselor about the risks for those leaving high school early. These “early leavers” have a variety of reasons for graduating early—but how many of them follow-up and pursue a career, a college degree, or anything they say they plan to do? It looks like a good number of them are ending up in their parents’ basement.

About the GED: Over 80% of those who take the GED end up passing it. What does the test entail? Does your school have a program in place to help kids prepare for it? Do colleges and employers accept it the same as they do a regular HS diploma? Interview a former student who took the GED and moved on with life. Fun fact: About half of the people who pass the GED enroll in college within two years.

Mom and Dad: Stop the Texting! During the pandemic parents often checked in with their kids, who were at home, studying online and just hunkering down. But that constant checking-in has apparently continued. Interview some teens about their parents texting them over and over during the school day. It’s an issue. This article cites some reasons: https://news.childrensmercy.org/associated-press-why-you-should-stop-texting-your-kids-at-school/

I Get My News On…Tik Tok: Yes, this is a thing. About 40% of teenagers get their news from this app. Find out why. Are they going to other sources to confirm what they see on Tik Tok? Or do they usually accept what they hear there as the final word on a news event? The short clips with pieces of news seem to be enough for young people, who often say they do not read long newspaper articles, or watch network newscasts. Does your school media use Tik Tok? Can they? Should they? https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/17/more-americans-regularly-get-news-on-tiktok-especially-young-adults/