The story of America is always evolving. How we talk about the country’s past plays a powerful role in shaping its present and future.
As student journalists, you have the opportunity to uncover and elevate stories that are often left out of traditional history books. These may include the contributions of marginalized communities, the lives of lesser-known local heroes, the history and current realities of the five U.S. colonial territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico), or pivotal events that have shaped the nation in unexpected ways.
Equally important is placing America’s story in a global context. From its founding, the United States has played a major role on the world stage, shaping global affairs through economic policy, military intervention, and political strategy, often rooted in colonial and imperial ambitions. These actions have lasting impacts on international relationships and communities around the world.
By exploring these local, national, and global narratives together, you can help tell a fuller, more inclusive story of American history—one that acknowledges complexity, elevates diverse voices, and draws connections across generations and borders.
Start close to home. Who or what in your community has been left out of the dominant historical narrative? What stories might help others better understand the richness and contradictions of American identity?
Interview elders. Visit local libraries, archives, and museums. Reach out to community leaders, family members, or activists. Dig into old records. Ask questions that lead to new perspectives and new stories.
History is not just about what happened. It's about who tells the story, and why it matters today.
This prompt does not have an active deadline to submit to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. However, students are encouraged to publish their stories on their school/club/program website or through video/social platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or Twitter and tag Student Reporting Labs.
FACEBOOK: /STUDENTREPORTINGLABS
Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information.
A subject or problem that people are thinking and talking about
A group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood). It can also be a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.
In news media, when storytelling presents a “frame” or window into important events or topics.
A simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group; a set form or convention
The condition of having or being composed of differing elements. Especially in the context of the inclusion of people of different races, cultures, etc. in a group or organization
The act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability)
Awareness of the elements of environment through physical sensation or intuitive cognition. A capacity for comprehension and understanding.
People are interested in other people. Everyone has something to celebrate and something to complain about. We like unusual stories of people who accomplish amazing feats or handle a life crisis because we can identify with them.
In news, it’s a story’s point or theme. It's the lens through which the producer or writer filters the information they have gathered and focuses it to make it meaningful to viewers or readers.
The people who read, watch and consume news. Often, journalists think about audience and newsworthiness in similar ways. How will the news story serve their local or national audience? Who am I writing the story for and why?
A person or other physical being in a narrative. Stories are made up of different characters who provide information and help shape the narrative with their knowledge, experience and perspective.
A description of what your story might be and WHY it’s important. An outline of your story idea and the steps to achieve your goal. A summary of what you hope to accomplish in your story
Video stories about newsworthy issues and topics, factual information, balanced reporting, research, voice overs, soundbites, b-roll footage, infographics, reporter standup, nats (natural sound bites).
The story of one person, has voiceover (VO), b-roll, pictures, nats (natural sound), interviews of family members or peers of that one person.
Narration and/or voiceover (VO) with a host, commentary, research, personal experiences, explanations, infographics, nats (natural sound), music, entertainment.
An investigation into and study of sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
An example of using a little person to tell a big story. For example, you want to tell a story about pollution in your community’s water system. That is a big issue. Your video will use the story of a person (character) to illustrate the effects of bad water quality.
An attempt to grab the reader or viewer’s attention with interesting information that will keep them reading or watching.
Free from mistake or error. Coverage of topics and facts in appropriate detail.
Historical inquiry is based on materials left from the past that can be studied and analyzed. (NCSS D2.His.9.9-12 - D2.His.13.9-12)
Determine the kinds of sources that will be helpful in answering compelling and supporting questions, taking into consideration multiple points of view represented in the sources, the types of sources available, and the potential uses of the sources. (NCSS D1.5.9-12)
Students leverage technology to take an active role in choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed by the learning sciences. (ISTE)
Whether students are constructing opinions, explanation, or arguments, they will gather information from a variety of sources and evaluate the relevance of that information. (NCSS D3.1.9-12 - D3.2.9-12)
Historical understanding requires recognizing this multiplicity of points of view in the past, which makes it important to seek out a range of sources on any historical question rather than simply use those that are easiest to find. It also requires recognizing that perspectives change over time, so that historical understanding requires developing a sense of empathy with people in the past whose perspectives might be very different from those of today. (NCSS D2.His.4.9-12 - D2.His.8.9-12)
Journalism
Representation
Stereotypes and Misconceptions
Civics
History
Active Prompts
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Computers
Internet
4-6 weeks