Senior Portrait Video Diary

Take a look at the questions below and write down your response. You don’t have to answer every question, but expand the answers that feel most important to you: tell a story that explains to the world how your perception of college has changed due to the pandemic.

Pro Tip: Don’t Rush Through The Questions!

1. What plans were you considering after high school before the pandemic started? Did you plan on going to college? Explain.
2. Has the pandemic changed your college and career plans? How?
3. Has the pandemic made having a college education more or less important to your future plans? Explain.
4. If you applied to colleges, was the application process easier during the pandemic? How was it more difficult?
5. How have your views on virtual learning changed from before the pandemic vs. now? Would you be more or less interested in virtual learning throughout college?
6. In 5 years, how do you think colleges will be different due to the current pandemic?

Use our VIDEO DIARY GUIDE in the resources and VIDEO DIARY LEVEL-UP to set up your phone, find a good background, and get good lighting and audio.

• SRL prefers horizontal video. Make sure to compose your shots a little wider for potential cropping to fit different format specs. If you want to shoot b-roll to help illustrate your responses, use this video tutorial on how to record b-roll on your phone. Remember that sound is important in a video clip, so be conscious of background noise, wind, etc.
• Talk naturally, looking directly at the camera lens the entire time. Avoid using scripted responses. Always start with an introduction, and let the audience know who you are and why you are doing a story about yourself (First name, current high school, city & state).
• Your video should be anywhere between 1 and 5 minutes in length. For inspiration, take a look at Senior Portraits from 2020 that aired on the NewsHour.

Example of Desired Composition:

Produce and publish a 1-3 minute video. This option is for intermediate to advanced students who want to practice editing.

1. Transfer your footage to your computer or device and transcribe using Otter or similar service
2. Identify your strongest soundbites.
3. Build the video with a compelling beginning, middle and end.
4. Use photos or b-roll to cover your edits.
5. Script your story (SRL Script Template)
6. Edit your video diary into a 2-3 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