Living through a natural disaster

This assignment is for young people living through a natural disaster who have the desire and ability to tell a story about the event and its aftermath. Safety is paramount, so do not put yourself in harm’s way, however if you have a smartphone or another camera/device to record what’s happening around you, Student Reporting Labs wants to hear your story.

Review this short tutorial on how to film using your smartphone, and this tutorial about how to record a video diary.

Tell your own story: If possible, before the natural disaster or extreme weather event, describe how you and your family, friends and/or neighbors are preparing. What steps are you taking? How are you finding good information about what to do and where to go? Do you have to evacuate, gather emergency supplies, or shelter in place? How are you trying to stay safe during the event? In the aftermath, what has changed and how are you feeling?

Tell a story about someone else who is helping: How are family, friends, community members pulling together? What kind of help are you receiving (or not receiving) from the local, state, and/or federal government? Are there community organizations, faith groups, and/or nonprofit organizations stepping in to provide support? What kinds of informal networks have popped up to take care of your community? How are you getting good information about what’s happening?

When telling your own story or interviewing another person, think about both the emotional and practical challenges of living through a natural disaster. How are you and those around you dealing with fear, uncertainty, loss, and change? What concrete steps need to be taken to keep people safe and get back to a sense of community healing or normalcy.

Extension activity: Several months after a natural disaster has occurred, interview someone working to re-open a school, business, place of worship, recreation center, or other community gathering place that was damaged. How are things going? What obstacles have they faced? Did they receive help? How are they feeling and what do they want others to know about their experiences? Capture their story.

This year, instead of submitting fully produced stories, SRL invites students to pitch their story ideas first.

PRO TIPS BEFORE BEFORE PITCHING YOUR STORY:

• RESEARCH: Spend time doing research, talk to people you’d like to interview and shape your story idea.
• WATCH: this short video about pitching
• REVIEW: this pitch example before submitting your idea.

SUBMIT YOUR PITCH:

• Submit your pitch using this form. Pitches will be accepted on a rolling basis.

SUCCESSFUL PITCHES WILL:

• Show clear evidence of research
• Tell a compelling story
• List specific people you intend to interview

If your pitch is selected, you will work with an SRL Youth Media Producer to further develop your story for publication. If selected, a team member will contact you within three weeks of your submission.

Google Doc version of this assignment