A User Friendly Morning News Show Format Suitable for Elementary School Students
Marsha Murray Oglethorpe County Elementary School, Lexington, Georgia

After over twenty years teaching, I am now a media specialist. Because I had never produced a news show, I was eager to attend sessions at the Fall GaETC Conference on this topic. Two sessions were very helpful to me.

Mary Tidrick presented “So You Have to Do a Morning News Show! Where Do You Begin?”. Susan Lawhorn’s session was “Got Morning News?”. Both presenters offered suggestions for producing a high quality closed-circuit news show. Their emphasis included organization, equipment needs, and format.

When I returned to school, I evaluated our news program and implemented some ideas and procedures discussed at the GaETC Conference. The sessions I attended boosted my confidence and improved the format of our news show. I used the presenters’ ideas to create a cleaner look in our broadcast studio, smoother transitions during the broadcast, and improve the students’ roles as crew members.

This new procedure has worked well with my elementary school students. To help others like me, I am providing this overview of our current news show format.

Our news crew consists of the following eight positions:

• Camera Operator – runs the camera during the broadcast;
• Cue Card Technician – edits, arranges, and rotates cue cards during the broadcast;
• Intercom Announcer – announces over the intercom prior to the beginning of the show to call students to be recognized and to remind teachers to turn on their televisions;
• Accelerated Reader TM Announcer – announces the names of the students receiving AR certificates and prizes that day;
• Accelerated Reader TM Presenter – presents the certificates to the AR winners as they come on camera;
• Classroom Troubleshooter – monitors the beginning of the show to check for technical problems then roams the building to make sure all rooms are receiving the broadcast;
• Anchor – opens the show, introduces any guests and other reporters, reads announcements and closes the show;
• Co-reporter – leads the school in the pledge, and patriotic song, and the moment of silence (positions 7 and 8 may require an audition to check reading skills and confidence level).

Before a student is chosen for the crew, he or she must complete a crew member application. Each student selects three of the eight positions in order of preference. The application requires students to explain why they want those particular positions and the skills that they can offer to that job.

Applications are filed in the order they are received. Preference is given to fifth graders, but each crew includes third and fourth graders as well. The most popular positions are camera operator and anchor which are usually fifth graders.

Each crew works for two weeks. On Friday of the second week, the incoming crew reports to observe and be trained. The current crew is introduced and recognized on camera. They also receive a prize bag of treats for working.

Our show opens with the camera aimed at the American flag, which hangs vertically from the ceiling. It remains focused on the flag until the program begins. The anchor greets the day stating the date and time.

The next segment varies daily. Special guests are introduced (this includes the principal, teachers, students and visitors). Afterwards, the anchor reads various announcements, the lunch menu, and a message from McGruff the Crimedog TM (used for character/values education).

The Accelerated Reader TM program segment recognizes students who have received points for books read. Each student receives a certificate and a prize at the various point levels. The AR announcer calls the names and the students enter one at a time to receive the certificate, which is handed to them by the AR Presenter. AR winners stay on camera until all of them have been announced and congratulated.

After the AR presentation the camera switches to our co-reporter who leads the pledge of allegiance, as the camera is focused on the flag. Then the reporter introduces the patriotic song of the day while the words are displayed on the screen. During the moment of silence the camera is again focused on the flag.

In the final segment the anchor gives words of encouragement and wishes everyone a good day. Afterwards, the crew prepares for the next day.

Our students are thrilled to be a news crew member. They take their jobs seriously and feel honored to be chosen. Their experience boosts self-confidence, enhances public speaking skills, and shows them how technology is an important part of everyday life.

NOTE: Accelerated Reader is a registered trademark of Renaissance Learning. If you are interested in this program visit the web site at www.renlearn.com . McGruff the Crimedog is a registered trademark of the National Crime Prevention Council. Information and products for McGruff are available at www.mcgruff.org .

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