The buzz spilling out of Trisha Dixon’s classroom and into the hallways at Cranberry High School is a sure sign that something is sizzling in that room filled with students and cameras and accented by an expansive board filled with sticky notes.
What’s going on is a singular focus – the news.
Cranberry Chronicles, a mix of online news reports, live streaming videos, blogs and a website, was established three years ago as an elective course in creative writing for seniors at Cranberry. At the end of the term, its popularity had soared and that prompted some dramatic changes.
The course is now three-tiered, a move that allows students to take it for three years in a system reminiscent of an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse where different grade levels are taught.
“It has really taken off,” said Dixon. “We thought it was important for students to see the world through an unbiased lens, especially the way news is manipulated now. Our students need to be critical thinkers. So, this course provides that as well as the Cranberry Chronicles.”
A wide range of topics
At the heart of the curriculum is journalism. While it highlights Cranberry Area School District news, the class pushes beyond that boundary to address a wide range of topics from community events to politics, fashion, health issues, sporting events and more.
Much of the work is done in the classroom but a big part of the effort occurs outside the routine school day as news is gathered, compiled, edited, formatted and published in the evenings and on weekends.
“It’s a big balancing act for these students,” said Dixon. “The photographs, interviews, filming, editing, production – they have to balance their time to do it all.”
The finished products are funneled into the Chronicles, a compendium of news created by class members. Articles are sprinkled in a variety of forms that include live streaming of sporting events and interviews, a website and print media, including The Derrick and The News-Herald. The newspapers also feature a Cranberry Chronicles blog on their websites.
Topics for the news stories are generated by the school calendar, social media, teachers and fellow students. There are suggestion boxes, too, set up around the school to take students’ questions that are then answered by the class members.
“We brainstorm, too, to come up with news stories,” said Jenna Seigworth who serves as editor in chief along with Andrea Watson.
The story topics plus reporting assignments are written on small sticky notes and plastered on a big bulletin board. Each day, class members check the board for directions.
Keen on the audio-visuals of news gathering, Rachel McCauley, described by her teacher as “a natural in front of the camera,” said, “I prefer being on camera. It gives you a different perspective when you do a live interview.”
A few of the classmates have their own blogs, or individual insertions on the Chronicles website, that focus on specific subjects.
“I have written articles but I also have a fashion blog. It’s not just about makeup but about people having confidence in themselves and having a comfort level. I believe we are the voice of the school – so many people want to be involved and we get them involved with this project,” said Madalynn Bunyak, a student who had no room in her schedule to take the class and opted to enroll in the independent study that permits her to participate.
Hannah Niederritter, an independent study student, does a psyche-central blog for the Chronicles.
“I want to help people by providing information about what they are struggling with and offering some tips on coping. And I interview people to let them know they are not alone. I want to be able to make a difference,” she said.
Rebekah Brown, a student who serves as the elementary school liaison for the Chronicles, is preparing “a Santa series with those kids” for the publication.
Beyond the school doors
While the bulk of the class efforts are directed at school-related activities, there are other subjects, too, that go beyond curriculum.
“We have a few subjects that could draw attention,” said Dixon. “We have a few in the works, like Sunday (athletic) practices.”
Carly Wice, a student, said she is working on a “story about Trump’s nationalist quote” on her politchat blog and admitted it could draw some reaction.
“But, we’ve been very well taught and when I do research, I make sure to look up multiple views. I check for the spin and check a lot of sources,” said Wice. “We did a study, too, on fake news. But, I love politics and so when I write about this, I think I can help people be informed.”
In fact-checking and editing, Watson said, “We have to research every article and it all was a lot more in-depth work than I thought it would be.”
To date, no stories bound for the Chronicles have been flagged as not appropriate or otherwise defamatory, said Dixon, who offers up the last word on the contents.
“I like my students to come up with their own ideas and so we have to sort those out,” said Dixon. “As for editing grammar and writing skills, everyone in this class has those good skills. There is not a ton of editing done.”
One such exercise, though, did require some unexpected editing and that taught the students a lesson, said Dixon. It involved red-lining some information in a story about a recycling company’s sponsorship of the school robotics team. Sara Uddin, producer of the chronicles, said she went to the event as a reporter.
“I saw the issue from both sides and we took it out. I learned a lot, though,” she said, echoing her teacher’s observation of “it was a learning experience.”
More than just the news
The Chronicles project goes beyond providing a news service, said several students in Dixon’s class. Live-streaming school concerts and athletic events, said one student, allows “our grandparents to see the event during bad weather or if they are away.”
Much of the efforts stems from school pride.
“It feels really good to represent Cranberry in such a good way,” said Watson.
Amber Holt, an independent study student, said, “I have a passion for writing and so it is very rewarding to me to know I’ve done something positive for my school.”
There is a personal aspect, too.
“This is a big part of us,” said Sarah Uddin. “And it benefits us in so many ways. For example, if you are shy, you can get confident by interviewing or reporting. Where do I want all this to go? I want to broaden our production and be better integrated and involve more of us. And I know we can do it.”
As a teacher, Dixon is reveling in the success of the Chronicles that ramps up confidence and self-esteem as well as fosters an affinity for learning.
“My expectations as well as theirs are so great and they are being met,” said Dixon. “A student will try something, like photojournalism, and then tell me, ‘I didn’t know I was good at that'” or do a news story and then say, ‘I didn’t know anything about news.’ It is wonderful.”
