9 Year Old Kid Reporter

Brennan is a 9 year old news reporter. He runs and edits a blog. His 2 year "blogging" anniversary is February 2, 2010. He lives in Jefferson County, which is around Seattle. He calls his blog the Spruce St. Weekly. He wants to become a journalist when he grows up. He sells his newspapers for 25 cents each and has made about 100 dollars.

Read Lance Y.'s story about how to win TIME magazine's kid reporter award.

By Anya J. and Rubina H.

Photo of Rubina (left) and Anya by Irene X.

The 'Why I Learn' Contest

Most of you know about the "Why I Learn" Contest. It is a journalist contest for students, and kids under 13 can enter. It is on June 19 2010, but the date might be changed, and you can apply on the internet. if you win, you get money and you get a job on the Time's magazine. Students from The Herald may try to enter the contest during the summer.

Read Anya J. and Rubina H.'s story about Brennan, a kid — a blogger — who won the award this summer.

Watch Irene X. interview Lance Y. about this article.



Photo credit: Corbis for TIME for Kids. This is a picture of the past winner.

Video credit: Zack O.

'I Am What I Learn' Contest

I'm sure you've heard about President Barack Obama's Education Speech on Tuesday, September 8. Obama spoke about how learning will lead you where you will be someday.

Just recently, Secretary Arne Duncan, spoke about a new 'I Am What I Learn' video project. The U.S. Department of Education are encouraging kids 13 years or older to enter in this contest. For this contest, you videotape yourself and you talk about why education is important right now and how it will help you to fulfill your dreams. The video should be under two minutes.

What Does It Take to Be a Kid Reporter?

Student Assignment:
Rubina H., Anya J.
Nine-year-old Brennan, runs The Spruce St. Weekly, a handwritten weekly Port Townsend, Washington, neighborhood newspaper. TIME magazine recently recognized Brennan's work with an award. This award is the news hook in your article. (A news hook is a timely event that makes your subject more interesting and relevant to your audience.)

• To learn more about Brennan, watch the above video and read this article from the Port Towsend Leader from October 2008.
• To learn about the news hook, read this recent article on the Seattle PI.

After watching Brennan's video and reading the article about him and the award, write three to five sentences (one paragraph) about Brennan and his winning of the award.

Remember to answer the five W’s of any good news story:

• Who:
• What:
• When:
• Where:
• Why: