Race and Justice Video Diary

Put pen to paper and write down what you are seeing, hearing and thinking about race and justice. Use this to get your thoughts together and think about your friends and family members, too.

Use these questions as guides:

Tell us what you’re seeing.

1. Talk about how the current situation makes you feel.
2. Talk about your hopes for change and healing systematic racism. What needs to happen next?

Tell us what you’re talking about.

1. Describe a conversation you have had with a friend or adult about racism.
2. How are discussions with adults different than those you have with your friends?
3. How is your generation’s view of race and justice different than older generations?

Talk to us about race and law enforcement.

1. When you see a police officer coming towards you, what goes through your mind? Where do these thoughts come from?
2. Describe a video of police response to protest that you’ve seen. How did this video make you feel?
3. What can your generation do to build safer, stronger communities?

Tell us what you’re seeing in the media.

1. What went into your decision to either watch, or not to watch, the video of George Floyd’s death?
2. How do you feel protests and police responses have been handled in the news and social media? Are there voices missing that you wish to hear from?
3. What have you seen on social media that felt intentionally misleading, uninformed or false? Describe. How are you handling/ fighting / exposing misinformation?

Talk to us about the role of journalism.

1. Journalists have been arrested, shot at and caught in the middle of the protests. What is the role of the press?
2. Do these events change your interest in journalism? Make you more passionate about pursuing journalism? Or less so? 
3. How can student journalists add light to the story while staying safe?

VIDEO DIARY:

Selfie-style with your phone or straight to camera (shoot horizontally if possible, but vertical is OK):

• Watch How to Record a Video Diary Level UP.
• Describe who you are (age, grade), where you live, and where you go to school. 
• Answer the questions that you have unique or strong responses for. 

**Remember, a good story has a beginning, middle, and end. Before you begin, think about what you want to say to your audience. This is a straight to camera recording that can be up to two minutes. **

INTERVIEW WITH SOMEONE ELSE:

• Decide who you want to interview.
• Brainstorm interview subjects and research the topic and what you want to focus on.
• Reach out to your interview subject(s) for a pre-interview and schedule a recording date. Decide if it will be an in-person or virtual interview.
• Prepare your questions and complete your research
• Record the interview(s) and make sure to thank your subject for their time. You can choose to have your interviewee look straight at the camera or at you. If you as the reporter will not be seen, we recommend having the subject look directly at the camera. If you as the reporter want to be in story, we recommend making sure you have a shot of both the interviewee and the interviewer to have a mix of shots to use when editing. Get addition tips with our QUICK Video Production Guide.

ON CAMERA IDENTIFICATION: Interviewers should ask subjects the following - For the record, please say and spell your full name (first and last) on camera. Also please describe how you want to be identified in this video. For example, “I’m an 11th grade student at Canyon High School in Santa Clarita, California”

• BONUS: Film or collect your b-roll about what the subject is talking about to help tell your story. (Advice on gathering b-roll with your phone with cameras)

EXAMPLE OF DESIRED COMPOSITION:

Looking at the camera, centered, from the chest up, eyes on upper third, normal headroom.

USE/DOWNLOAD: SRL RAPID RESPONSES SKILLS AND STANDARDS CHECKLIST

• Transcribe your interview and highlight the best soundbites. (Otter.ai transcription guide)
• Script your story (SRL Script Template) and build your story with a beginning, middle and end.
• Edit your piece into a 1-3 minute video story

This challenge 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. Check with your teacher to find out instructions for class submissions.

FACEBOOK: /STUDENTREPORTINGLABS

TWITTER: @REPORTINGLABS

INSTAGRAM: @STUDENTREPORTINGLABS

TIKTOK: @REPORTINGLABS