From big-time interviews to what’s going on in their world, Young Reporters cover it all.

Being Nosy Can Be a Good Thing!

How would you describe your personality? Are some personality traits better than others when it comes to helping you get the scoop?
Young Reporters come from different backgrounds and experiences. Some are as comfortable riding a horse as they are riding in a car. Some reporters prefer life in the big city and get nervous around livestock. Our surroundings and experiences help shape who we are.
Some kids become Young Reporters because it fits their outgoing personalities. Others join to help overcome a bit of shyness. Some kids love to write and want to share their thoughts. Others are in it for the great experiences.

Beyond having an outgoing personality, being nosy is a good thing when it comes to reporting! If you’ve gotten in trouble for snooping, reporting may be a socially acceptable outlet for your inquisitiveness. Journalists seem to be filled with an endless supply of questions—even personal ones. And they don’t back down from asking the tough question that’s on everyone’s mind.
As a Young Reporter, you’ll develop your “nose for news.” Like a bloodhound, you’ll be able to sniff out a news story from a mile away! And if you’re really into digging up facts, you might consider becoming an investigative reporter. These tough journalists use their sources and good ol’-fashioned research to break important stories.
Remember, a good reporter doesn’t give up just because a story is hard to get.

Bear’s First Cub Reporters

A “cub reporter” refers to someone who’s new to journalism. Bear first published news stories written by kid reporters back in September 1981, when the Tucson-based newspaper expanded to schools in Phoenix.
This first batch of aspiring young writers covered all sorts of news. They shared stories about interesting school projects and events. They wrote about happenings in the community. Some enjoyed covering subjects like science, space or the environment. It’s an exciting world that’s filled with fascinating facts.
Of course, many of the news stories were a bit rough around the edges—after all, everybody has to get their start somewhere. With its very helpful editors, Bear Essential News for Kids is the perfect publication to get you started!

Who Can Be a Young Reporter?

Any kid in grades 3 through 8 can join Bear’s award-winning program!
Being a Young Reporter takes time and effort, but there are many benefits. Not many kids have the opportunity to have their stories professionally edited and published regularly. Best yet, Young Reporters can also go on TV with their stories!

Getting Started

As a reporter, your first job is to come up with a story idea. A good writer keeps his or her readers in mind. So ask yourself, will people who read Bear Essential News be interested in this story? Or is this something they need to know?
Young Reporters are the eyes and ears of the newspaper. They cover news that’s happening around them—at school, in their sports or clubs and in the rest of their community. Some of the best stories come from things that are close to their hearts.

Keep Up with the News

Many story ideas come from the news, so read the newspaper, watch TV news, listen to news on the radio and go online for ideas. Maybe your favorite singing sensation is coming to town, so set up an interview! Most news is written for adults, but keep an eye or an ear out for something you can turn into a story for young readers.

Stick to the Facts!

The basics of reporting are straightforward and perfect for kids to learn. In journalism, you gather the same facts every time—the 5 W’s and H, which stands for WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW.
Unlike fiction writing or creative writing, reporters must stick to the facts for their news stories. You can gather the 5 W’s and H through research, by interviewing someone who’s in the know or by reporting on an event firsthand.

Writing It Up

Keep your news writing simple and straightforward. Remember that young readers can have short attention spans and can get bored easily. You need to keep your words interesting.
The first part of your story is called the “lead,” which is where a good reporter reaches out and grabs the attention of the reader! Play up the most interesting or hard-hitting facts of your story in your lead, and keep your sentences and paragraphs short and to the point.
For subsequent paragraphs, go into other, finer details that are important to your story. Journalists call this the “inverted pyramid” style of writing, where the most important facts are up at the top of the story, and the less important details follow.

Photojournalism

Digital cameras have made it a snap to take great photos and e-mail them. So if you’re covering a big event or have an interview with someone important, be sure to bring your camera or call Bear ahead of time at 1-866-NEWS KID so a photographer can come out.
For some great pointers by professional photographers, go to Bear’s front covers and click on the May 2008 archives (the one where Boomer is holding a camera).
When you send in your story, include a photo or two and any other interesting facts or info you couldn’t fit into your story. Do not place any photos or artwork within your Microsoft Word document. Just send them as separate TIFF or JPEG files!

Sign Up Now

Make your New Year’s Resolution to become a Young Reporter!
You can get the sign-up forms online by going to www.BearEssentialNews.com and clicking on “Young Reporters.” Be sure to pick the tab at the top of the forms section that best matches where you live in Arizona.
Fill out the bio form and have your parent sign it on the bottom. Then come up with five story ideas of things you might like to cover.