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What is QPL Newsroom?
QPL Newsroom prepares high school students in grades 9-12 to construct newsworthy stories and articles that would inform the public about what is happening at Queens Public Library and the broader impact on the community.
Students learn how to construct pieces that are featured within QPL newsletters, blogs, and webpages; bring youth voice and perspective to the forefront; and accurately reflect the diversity and rich history of Queens, demonstrate the impact of how public libraries address the challenges faced by the neighborhoods we serve, spotlight staff members, patrons, activities, and resources found across the library community, and exemplify the vision and mission of the library.
Students brainstorm and plan together, research, write, edit, ask questions, and learn in a supportive space with the full resources of the library at their fingertips. Additionally, the QPL Newsroom incorporates regular virtual sessions, independent and group projects, professional development forums, and field trips to offer a unique hand-on experiential learning project.
What Are the Benefits of QPL Newsroom?
QPL Newsroom brings together high school students interested in expressing their viewpoints, thoughts, and ideas through writing, illustration, photography, and digital media, but without access to school newspapers, journalism, or multimedia clubs. Students receive guidance and mentorship to build the skills needed to develop interesting and factual works, including:
- Copy Editing
- Critical Thinking and Ethics
- Photography and Videography
- Public Speaking and Interviewing
- Research
- Writing
Also, QPL Newsroom provides students with:
- Community Service Hours
- Career and Professional Development
- Networking & Field Trips
Roles in QPL Newsroom
Students apply for QPL Newsroom roles that appeal to their interests and provide specific responsibilities and tasks allowing them to learn through action.
Each role is essential for success in informing the library community. Under the guidance of a staff advisor, students work independently and as a collective to produce high quality content on a rolling basis.
JOURNALISTS |
What You Will Do
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Write articles and conduct interviews, often covering various topics and events. Dive into stories that matter to students, interview library patrons, community members, and library staff, cover library events, and share what’s happening across the library community. You will research important topics and see your writing published. | ||
| Preferred Skills | Communication, curiosity, creativity, time management, and a passion for storytelling. | |||
| Skills You Will Learn | Effective interviewing, how to research and verify facts, news writing, adapting writing for different audiences, and meeting deadlines. | |||
COPY EDITORS |
What You Will Do |
Oversee the content, ensuring accuracy and quality while also providing direction and feedback. Review articles before publication, fix grammar and spelling, and ensure clarity and accuracy. Collaborate with writers to keep the publication engaging and easy to read. |
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| Preferred Skills |
Attention to detail, grammar knowledge, patience, teamwork, and reliability under deadlines. |
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| Skills You Will Learn |
Advanced editing techniques, style consistency, constructive feedback, time management, and teamwork. |
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PHOTOGRAPHERS |
What You Will Do |
Capture images to complement stories, enhancing the visual appeal and storytelling. Capture moments at library events, activities, programs, and interviews. Edit and choose images to help stories come alive visually. |
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| Preferred Skills |
Creativity, technical ability with cameras or smartphones, timing, dependability, and teamwork. |
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| Skills You Will Learn |
Photography basics, photo editing, visual storytelling, working collaboratively, and managing deadlines for photo assignments. |
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RESEARCHERS |
What You Will Do |
Investigate topics, verify facts, and source reliable data, ensuring that the content is both trustworthy and informative. Gather facts, verify sources, and provide background info for stories. Support writers by ensuring the accuracy and reliability of all published content. |
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| Preferred Skills |
Problem-solving, curiosity, organization, persistence, and tech-savvy research abilities. |
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| Skills You Will Learn | Fact-checking, digital literacy, critical analysis, organizing sources, and reliable research methods. | |||
Publication Sections
Students develop articles and stories based on specific sections or "beats" that categorize information and activities within the library. These sections present information so that busy readers possess the option to focus on news that is important to them.
Sections include:
- Adult Education
- Arts and Culture
- Children and Teens
- Civic Engagement
- Community Learning
- Education
- Health and Wellness
- Older Adults
- Queens Memory