10 Story Ideas for Your School News Show | September 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.

Stadium Video Team: The crew behind the in-stadium broadcast, the ones who fill the video screen with graphic, replays, etc.  Who are they, how do they prepare, and what do they do when the home team is not doing so well?  People love behind-the-curtain stories, and if this one also promotes your video program, so be it.

Scams Aimed at Young People:  In the last five years, the amount of money lost by people under 20 to scammers grew by 2500%. Victims under 20 lost $210 million dollars in 2022.  Online “influencers” can scam teens with fake contests, asking for their bank account information. There are romance scams, which means more teens need to know how to do a reverse image search. Teens should also never send explicit photos. “Sextortion” scams are on the rise.

Cell Phones Bans:  This topic has heated up in recent months as more and more schools are banning cell phone use in class. An article in Education Week examines what is happening, and this would be a high-interest topic your students could localize.  https://www.edweek.org/technology/states-are-cracking-down-on-cellphones-in-schools-what-that-looks-like/2024/05

Before They Were Teachers:  Students love stories about faculty members’ lives before they were teaching school, and some of those “past lives” are extremely interesting and often surprising. Do some research. Find a teacher who will share their experience before they ever got into education.

Dirty Jobs:  There are some jobs that we just don’t want to do, and we are thankful for the people to who tackle them. These stories do not always have to be about “gross” jobs. They can also be as simple as following your custodian around one morning when he or she arrives at 5:30 a.m. and gets the building ready for the day.  That time of day is “gross” to many.

Election 2024:  The challenge is to find an angle not already covered in the national or local media that teens would find helpful or interesting. Get the County Clerk to walk you through the ballot, and take first-time voters through a simulation of the entire process: finding your polling place, showing an ID or voter card, signing your name, finding privacy and filling out a ballot. Or follow two teens who are campaigning for the different parties and give them equal time to explain their passion for their candidates.  Covering the election does not have to be scary. Use it to teach objectivity.

October 10, 2003:  Why is that date significant?  It was the day Starbucks introduced the pumpkin spice latte to stores in Vancouver, Canada and Washington D.C. The rest, as they say, is history.  It became Starbucks’ most successful seasonal drink. It led to the growth of pumpkin spice-scented candles, pumpkin spice-flavored beer, and even pumpkin spice-scented trash bags. So how popular is PSL where you are? Why do some find it annoying?

Sneakerheads:  Know anyone who fits this? “According to Huddle Up, sneakerheads own anywhere from 25 to 75of sneakers and buy one to four pairs a month. Once the symbol of athleticism, sneakers have become one of the biggest fashion and commercial items in the world.”  (You only need one to make it a story)

Observe This:  Every month there are so many holidays and observances. September has a zillion. Pick a day, and explore the awesomeness. Example? September 19 is National Butterscotch Pudding Day AND Talk Like a Pirate Day.  September 28 includes Ask a Stupid Question Day, International Rabbit Day, and National Ghost Hunting Day.  Clever reporters and producers could have a great time with these.  https://www.today.com/life/holidays/september-holidays-and-observances-rcna33296

How Soon Is Too Soon?  Stores and those holiday decorations. It is out of control where you are? Halloween items are already out. Can Thanksgiving and Christmas be far behind? Take this one beyond the “we are all so tired of it” phase and look at the why. Ask local merchants how the seasonal displays drive customers to their doors, and how important that is for their bottom line. There is a method to the madness.