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Challenge | 50 minutes

RAPID RESPONSE: action on gun violence


OVERVIEW

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Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for young Americans.

Student Reporting Labs is creating a collaborative documentary with student journalists to cover how gun violence affects young people, which will be published in fall 2024. While the statistics can be very sad and overwhelming, there are a lot of ways young people are advocating for change.

You can contribute to the documentary by completing this Rapid Response and sharing how you feel and/or what you’re doing in your own community.

Deadline: Friday May 17

YOUR CHALLENGE

SRL is interested in hearing about how you and other young people are taking action to address gun violence and/or what gives you hope when you think about it.

Please share your own thoughts or interview a peer. For this prompt, we would only like to hear from young people and how they are combating gun violence today.

Use these sample sentences to get started:

  • “What gives me hope is….”
  • “When I feel {upset/angry/sad ect.} I think about….{something that gives you hope or makes you feel better}”
  • “I am working to….{explain an action you or your peers are taking}”
  • “I advocate to prevent gun violence because…{explain an action you or your peers are taking}”
  • “I look to…(advocates/people in your life /organizations advocating to prevent gun violence) because…”
  • “What inspires me to create solutions is…{explain an action you or your peers are taking}”
  • “I am hopeful that my generation will…(explain an action you and your peers can do to prevent gun violence) to prevent gun violence for future generations.”

OPTIONS

Record yourself: This could be in the form of a video diary, where you record yourself talking straight to the camera using the suggested questions.

Record a peer: Record another teenager using the suggested questions (above) as a guide. Add your own questions too, and ask good follow up questions based on the answers you hear.

ON CAMERA IDENTIFICATION: 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” NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS USED BY SRL’S EDITORS TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS ON SCREEN. WE NEED IT IN ORDER TO PUBLISH YOUR VIDEO.

PRODUCTION STEPS

  • Decide which option you would like to pursue.
  • Reach out to your interview subject(s) for a pre-interview and schedule a recording date.
  • Prepare and practice.
  • Record the interview(s) and make sure to thank your subject for their time. They must sign our media release if they are under 18.
  • Transfer your footage to your computer or device and transcribe using Otter or similar service.
  • Before uploading your video for submission, watch it.

PRODUCTION GUIDE

It is important to follow these guidelines if you would like your video to be considered for publication.

UPLOADING VIDEO FILE: Rename the video file with your information: STATE_School_Name_RR.mp4

Example: CT_BensonHigh_SallySmith_RR.mp4

File type: .mp4, codec: h.264, resolution: 1920x1080, 30fps

Exporting .mp4 using Premiere or Final Cut Pro

EXAMPLE OF DESIRED COMPOSITION FOR RAPID RESPONSES:

composition.width-800

Subject is looking at the camera, centered, from the chest up, normal headroom.

HOW TO SUBMIT TO PBS NEWSHOUR STUDENT REPORTING LABS

FILL OUT THE SUBMISSION FORM HERE (this is where you’ll submit submit your raw video and transcripts)

NOTE: We encourage educators to watch the videos and review them for technical issues, and ONLY SUBMIT THE BEST 5 PER SCHOOL OR CLASS.

REMINDER: You must have this release form completed to confirm your participation in Student Reporting Labs (SRL).

News Media

All forms of media created with the purpose of informing the public and delivering news through specific mediums such as radio and broadcast stations, digital news organizations and others.

Issue

​​A subject or problem that people are thinking and talking about

Source: Cambridge Dictionary

Community

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.

Source: Merriam Webster

Story Angle

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.

Source: ThoughCo.

Empathy

The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. A generally definition is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. In media-making, creators can have empathy for their subjects and the audience can empathize with the characters.

Soundbite

A short extract or clip from a recorded interview, chosen for its relevance to the story, pungency or appropriateness.

Fact

Something that is known or proved to be true.

Opinion

A view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

Natural sound

Sounds produced in their actual setting. Natural sound, commonly known as NAT sound, puts the viewer in the place the story was told by enhancing the scene(s) with video containing rich audio such as a musician singing at a train station, a storm approaching, or the sound of a tractor plowing the field.

Transcription

A word-for-word document of what was said in a conversation or interview

Narrator

A person who gives an account or tells the story of events, experiences, etc. In news, it is the person who adds spoken commentary to the video news story.

Subject

The main person or character in a story. There can be multiple subjects in a story. The subject can also be the main theme of your story.

Pre-interview

A conversation with someone who is relevant to your story. Typically done over the phone or through video conferencing, but they can be done in person, too.

Follow-up Question

A question that comes after an interview subject responds to an initial question asked by the interviewer. A good follow-up question derives from listening to what the interviewee is saying and determining how best to help them elaborate and share more information.

Fact-check

The process of verifying the accuracy of a piece of information.

Constructing Supporting Questions

Explain points of agreement and disagreement experts have about interpretations and applications of disciplinary concepts and ideas associated with a supporting question and explain how supporting questions contribute to an inquiry and how, through engaging source work, new compelling and supporting questions emerge. (NCSS D1.3.9-12 - D1.4.9-12)

Determining Helpful Sources

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)

Demonstrate the use of basic tools and equipment used in audio, video and film production.

Creative Communicator

Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. (ISTE)

Constructing Compelling Questions

Explain how a question reflects an enduring issue in the field and explain points of agreement and disagreement experts have about interpretations and applications of disciplinary concepts and ideas associated with a compelling question. (NCSS D1.1.9-12 - D1.2.9-12)

Gathering and Evaluating Sources

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)

Plan and deliver a media production (e.g., broadcast, video, web, mobile).

Topics

Race and Justice

Video Production

Civics

Elections

Gun Violence

School Safety

Health

Mental Health

Active Prompts

Levels

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Materials

Camera or Mobile Phone

Camera

Mobile Phone

Internet

Notebook

Estimated Time

50 minutes