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Extra! Extra! VPT Presents "Above the Fold"
HOT OFF THE PRESSES!
The Winners are in!
You can read all of the entries submitted for the "Above the Fold" project, including winners from each grade and the overall winner!Read the Entries
Who? You! Middle school students in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade (or any combination thereof) throughout Vermont
What? Coming this fall, Vermont Public Television is kicking off Above the Fold, a journalism contest that will showcase your critical thinking and writing skills. It will also give you the chance to be recognized by VPT and Vermont newspapers. Each group that enters will submit, through templates provided, the front page of a newspaper that you create containing top stories from within your community. Content can be comprised of articles, photos, editorials, cartoons and more! When combined, Above the Fold entries will encapsulate newsworthy events from one week in Vermont.
Why? This is a great opportunity for students in Vermont to utilize and capitalize on their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills while also getting a fun-filled, real-world educational experience in the field of journalism!
Where? Your community. News content may be local, within your neighboring towns or may be school-based.
When? All entries will report on the week of Nov. 7, 2011-Nov. 13, 2011. Your submission deadline will be Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, and winners will be announced and printed during the week of Dec. 12, 2011 via newspapers and vpt.org.
How? Find out what's going on! Investigate. Be a "tourist" in your own community! Find out what's important to you and those around you. Here are a few newspaper templates to get you started with your layout!
Template 1 | Template 2 | Template 3
Student Participation
Mike Kilian, Associate Editor of the Burlington Free Press, speaking yesterday to Michael Bleau's 8th grade Language Arts class at Crossett Brook Middle School. The topics -- how to develop a good story lead and conduct a good interview. The students are participating in VPT's Above The Fold, state-wide newspaper contest.
Exclusive Journalism Tips
From Vermont This Week's Guests
What Makes a Good Story?
How Long Should the Story Be?
Researching Information for Your Story
Choosing a Topic for Your Story
Featuring:
Terri Hallenbeck, Reporter, Burlington Free Press
Tom Kearney, Editor, Stowe Reporter
Olga Peters, Reporter, The Commons
Bruce Edwards, Business Editor, Rutland Herald
Anne Galloway, Publisher, vtdigger.org
Shay Totten, Columnist, Seven Days
Entry Form & Rules
Download the Entry Form PDF | Download the Contest Rules PDF
Newspaper Visits
Collaborating newspapers will send staff to schools to discuss certain topics in journalism. These visits are limited on a first come, first serve basis. Click here for available dates.Lesson Plans
Newspapers in the Classroom
Five-day lesson plan where students will learn about basic journalism terms, styles and purposes, identifying elements of journalistic style (inverted pyramid, localization, etc), using journalistic techniques to interview a subject(s).
Writing and Reporting / Collaborative Research
Classroom activity where students will dissect a news article from PBS's NOW Online archive. Downloadable "News Story Analysis Worksheet" PDF available.
Developing Story Ideas
Designed to help students construct specific and feasible story ideas.
Story Ideas to Help Kids Get Started
New Student/8th Grade Newspaper Story List10 Story Ideas
A collection of tips from high school newspaper advisers nationwide on how to run student publications and deal with the issues from administrators, students and parents.
Student Resources
Journalism GlossaryA complete list of most common journalism terms defined
Basic Journalism Guidelines
Brief definitions and information about lead, tone, sentence length, and the inverted pyramid
"If I Were a Carpenter—The Tools of a Writer"
Sentence, paragraph, and story structure tips
Newswriting Process
Beginning Reporting: Determining focus of story and the importance of the focus
More…
More online journalism resources from the Newspaper Association of America
Contact VPT
For more information about the contest or for questions, please contact the Outreach Department at VPT at outreach@vpt.org or call us at 1-800-639-3351.
Peter DesLauriers of St. Albans City School
"This activity has inspired Team USA to find more real life activities such as this for our students. Their determination, their obvious pride and the educational value of this endeavor was exactly what education should be. I thank VPT for the experience, the concept and above all, the challenge to continue education for my students in this method."
Dave Blow, Journalism Professor at Castleton State College
"I always stress to my college students how vital journalism is to keep people informed about issues that impact their lives. I love that this "Above the Fold" contest will expose young people to the joys and power of journalism and I hope it breeds some future journalists."
Collaborating Newspapers and Sponsors
Special Thanks to our collaborators and community partners!
Supported in Part by
Special thanks to the St. Albans City School for their "test run" of Above the Fold last Spring.