Teens Writers Wanted: Be the Voice of the BKR News Hub!

BySsanyu Lukoma

Are you a passionate teen looking to amplify diverse voices through storytelling? Join Brown Kids Read’s News Team and gain hands-on experience in journalism or video production, all while making a real impact and earning service hours!

Overview: Brown Kids Read is looking for passionate and motivated high school students (ages 14-18) to join our volunteer team as writers and video reporters. You’ll be responsible for producing weekly news stories or creating video content focusing on diverse literature. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on journalism experience while earning weekly service hours.

1. Written Reporter (3 positions available)

Each writer will be assigned a specific beat:

  • New Releases/Author Interviews: Cover the latest diverse children’s and YA book releases, collaborate with publishing companies, conduct interviews with authors, and highlight upcoming works.
  • Banned Books/Controversy: Report on book banning trends, censorship issues, and challenges facing diverse literature in schools and libraries.
  • General News: Cover general news related to diverse literature, including literary events, publishing trends, and other timely topics.

Responsibilities:

  • Receive an assigned story on Mondays and submit a completed article by Fridays each week.
  • Conduct interviews, gather quotes, research, and fact-check your story.
  • Obtain and credit images to accompany the article.
  • Ensure content is engaging and relevant to our audience.

2. Video Reporter (1 position available)

Do you love being on camera and have a passion for telling stories visually? We are looking for a Video Reporter to create one video version of an article per week. The video reporter will highlight diverse literature in a dynamic and engaging format, helping us reach our audience across social platforms.

Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with written reporters to turn weekly articles into short, engaging videos.
  • Record and edit video content, ensuring it’s high-quality and compelling.
  • Be comfortable in front of the camera, delivering content with energy and enthusiasm.
  • Manage your time effectively to meet weekly deadlines.

Qualifications:

  • Must be between 14-18 years old.
  • Strong writing (for written reporters) and communication skills.
  • For video reporters: Good on-camera presence, basic video editing skills, and an energetic, engaging personality.
  • Interest in diverse literature and current events.
  • Ability to meet weekly deadlines.

Commitment:

  • 2-3 hours per week, including research, interviews, and content creation.
  • This is a volunteer position. Service hours will be awarded weekly for your contributions.

Benefits:

  • Build journalism or video production experience in a real-world setting.
  • Strengthen writing, research, interview, or video editing skills.
  • Contribute to an organization focused on promoting diverse stories.
  • Earn community service hours to boost your resume and college applications.