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ABOUT US >> How we do it
Also: ABOUT US
>> Board Of Directors
Children's PressLine uses an oral journalism
process created by its predecessor, Children's Express. By relying
on the spoken word rather than the written word, this methodology
facilitates the participation of children of all ages and literacy
levels. CPL enables kids to be trained quickly and easily, empowering
them with their work and in the media.
All stories start with an idea. Reporters, editors, staff, parents
and readers submit an idea on a CPL RAP sheet. The idea should be
Current, have a Point, give kids Leverage with decision makers, be
Relevant, have Appeal and be a topic CPL journalists are Passionate
about. Kids research the idea through online and primary sources.
With the help of staff and volunteers, the journalists identify key
individuals or groups to interview.
Next, potential interviewees are contacted and interviews are scheduled.
The story is placed on the monthly newsletter
and journalists call to sign up for the story or they come in to the
monthly bureau meeting. The news team, made up of two or three reporters
(ages 8 to 13) and one or two editors (ages 14 to 18), meets at the
office to brief for the story.
This is when the team, led by the editors, read through background
material, discuss their own experiences with the topic and write at
least 20 questions. The questions are based on journalism's "5W and
an H" but also delve into personal experiences and how the issue at
hand affects kids of all backgrounds.
The next time the team comes together is for the interview. Some interviews
are in-person at either CPL's Manhattan office or at the interviewee's
home or meeting space. Others take place over the phone. All are recorded
using minidisc or tape recorders. During the interviews the young
reporters ask questions and gather the necessary information. The
editors' main job is handling the recording equipment, taking notes
and guiding the reporters during the interview.
The final step for the news team is the debriefing- the most important
part of the process. During the debriefings, which are recorded, the
reporters and editors discuss the interview and provide their opinions
and experiences on the topic. For print stories, the team discusses
what the interviewee said and then verbally builds the story. For
Loud & Clear's fact/VOICE pieces, the reporters transcribe and edit
the interview, finding the most powerful and revealing statements
for the 'VOICE' portion that will illuminate the statistical 'fact.'
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