Journalism Club Information

Mrs. Wendy Stevens created and advises a group of brainy 4th and 5th graders in the Journalism Club at Troutdale Elementary School. Students in the club learn how to use cameras and computers and how to write journalistic-style stories. Club members are selected through an application process, which is like a job application. Each student must include two letters of reference and an essay describing their interest in membership. For this school year, 42 students applied and 32 were chosen – 16 will serve in the fall club and 16 in the winter club.     Mrs. Stevens organized the group into an after school club that meets once a week. She starts with lessons in basic journalism skills; such as general vocabulary, writing skills, an introduction to photography and using the computer to file your story.   As a group, the club brainstorms story ideas such as Bingo Night, the Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast and the winter food drive. Afterward the brainstorming session, Mrs. Stevens pairs students up to focus on one story. They go to the computer lab and choose a photo to match up with their assigned story.

Mrs. Stevens originally came up with Journalism Club to get students involved with creating the yearbook, so their pictures can be put into the yearbook and stories can be put up online at the Troutdale Elementary website.  When asked why she started the club, Mrs. Stevens said, “ Before this program was established, I was fully in charge creating a yearbook. It dawned on me that I was holding onto the editor role and the yearbook really should be informed by the students.” Students need to be deciding what the important happening are in a school year, and it is a great extension of reading, writing and thinking skills to promote the year’s highlights through various articles.

The club is very active. Club members recently donned their press pass badges to cover the District-wide book Fair and staff spelling bee, the dedication of the “Hall of Flags”, and the seasonal food drive. Students are building their academic skills throughout the process of interviewing, gathering information, selecting the key points for an article, developing their sources, and honing the craft of photography, and selecting powerful images for their stories.

It was great to attend a club meeting and turn the interviewers into interviewees. One member, Marbella Guzman said, “I feel important writing an article for the whole school.”  From the official “Press Pass” badges to the weekly homework assignments, Journalism Club is sure to provide both interesting and useful knowledge to these students in the future. Mrs. Stevens goes above and beyond in developing skills of her club members and is excited to see the 2011-12 Yearbook.