 |  Students' TV reports of the event |
Generation Next is a BBC project exploring the world through the eyes of the next generation - the under 18s. As part of News Day 24 on 6 December, Sixth Form students at Longsands College in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, got the chance to share their experiences with schools in Iran, the United States and BBC audiences around the world via News 24 and BBC World.
Not to be outdone by the professionals, BBC News School Reporters at the school also jumped at the chance of covering the event, and made two short films.
For the Year 8s, the day started with watching the Year 12s and 13s go live on BBC News 24 and then it was down to some serious planning: What shots did they need? Who did they want to interview? And what would they ask?
Quick edit
First to be interviewed by Jethro was News 24 Special Correspondent Philippa Thomas, with Tom on camera. Meanwhile, the other Tom and Michael tracked down an interview with Assistant Principal Leigh Adams and there was some clever use of chairs to cope with the height differences.
 On the spot: School reporters turn the tables on Philippa Thomas |
The girls also got stuck in - working together, Bianca, Nicole, Kirstie and Lara spoke to one of the sixth formers to find out how the day had been for them and during their interview with Philippa tried out some nifty camera interview techniques. They also managed to find time to explore the BBC Outside Broadcast, or OB, truck.
Once all the filming was done it was time to head to the media suite for a bit of editing and thanks to good planning and some quick work, by the end of the day there were two films.
The students agreed that it had all been a great experience.
"It was really good learning how to use the cameras and asking the questions," said Nicole, while Tom said he was "surprised to be let loose with the equipment".
Confidence
Michael thought it had "all been good" and his advice to other school reporters was that is "important to plan" and to just "try your best".
|  It provides pupils with the opportunity and insight into how BBC news reports are produced |
Kirstie's top tip was to "record lots of different views because you don't want to be biased". Teacher Lisa Plowman thought it was a great opportunity for the students:
"It provides pupils with the opportunity and insight into how BBC news reports are produced.
"It's given them the confidence and opportunity to create their own news reports, to the degree that they will now become pupil specialists to work with small groups of students for the School Report News Day on 22 March."
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
