Bristol's Young Innovators: 5th-Graders Master TV Newscast Production

“Edith, mic check,” calls out a student, standing at the audio control board.

A few minutes later, director John Moxcy calls for quiet on the set, then cues his anchors to speak.

John is in the 5th grade. So are his two on-camera anchors, Edith and Ariel.

Welcome to the
South Bristol Scoop
—a TV news program written and produced by the South Bristol School 5th grade. All three of them.

“I was kind of excited,” Ariel Larrabee-Cotz said when she learned that she and her classmates were going to start creating their own newscasts.

Reality tempered the excitement when the kids in this small fishing town decided the newscast should include the latest lobster prices.

“I didn’t realize I would have to smell fish every day I went down to get prices,” Ariel admits.

The idea for the show began with Larry Sidelinger, executive director of
Lincoln County Television
, the local access channel.

“We have a hard time finding young people and interns to get involved at the TV station in Lincoln County,” Sidelinger said, “so why not start a program in the lower schools?”

South Bristol Principal Laurie Stiles said she instantly liked the idea.

“The hands-on learning for sure,” Stiles said of her interest in doing the TV program. “I knew this was going to provide fifth graders an opportunity not normally given to high school or college students. They’re also a very eager group, so I knew they would run with it.”

For all involved, it’s been a learning experience, to say the least.

The kids have had to learn to set up and operate all the equipment for the program. They have also conducted all the interviews and planned and written the scripts, with the help of the three middle school teachers.

“One of the hardest things has been making the script,” John Moxcy said, “because you need to be long enough, but can’t be too short either. So it has to be just the right amount.”

Teachers have helped with the script writing, but science teacher Jason Bigonia says fine-tuning the script has taught the students many lessons.

“I can see the difference between practice and when they get on stage. Much pickier about what they write when they get on stage. (Reactions like) ‘What? This doesn’t make sense.’”

The kids agreed that the South Bristol Scoop was pretty rough when they began.

“Yikes,” 5th-grade anchor and interviewer Edith Jonason said. “I thought, yikes, we’re not gonna get through this year.”

“Yeah, it was really not good,” John agreed.

But they learned, and all got better. The Scoop has interviewed other students about trips and projects, but has also gone into the community. They talked to the head of the local fishermen’s co-op and even did a show at the local hospital. Both forced the young TV reporters to talk with adults and ask questions that kids their age normally don’t have the chance to ask.

All of it, said their teachers and principal, was a great learning experience.

Sidelinger said the Scoop has exceeded all his expectations for the first year. LCTV and the school both hope to continue the project next year, although they need to secure financial support to make that happen.

At the same time, the program has gotten the attention of other local schools. Sidelinger says he is already in discussions with the elementary schools in Jefferson, Edgecomb, and Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro, which are hoping to start their own school TV newscasts.

And the students? They clearly want to keep the Scoop going and continue their involvement.

When we gave them the chance to interview their teacher and principal on camera, Edith raised the question for their principal:

“Ms. Stiles, are we going to do the TV show again next year?”

The answer sounded hopeful, but not conclusive.

“We’ve talked about a way to get both the fifth and sixth grade involved.”

She told them that more discussions would be forthcoming.

TV interviews don’t always produce simple answers. One more part of the learning experience that these three young reporters hope is just beginning.

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