The KYW Newstudies program is put on by the Philadelphia KYW News Radio station for high schoolers all across the East Coast. Since its start in 1968, students have applied to get the chance to learn the inner workings of being a journalist through various panels and activities put on by reporters of all specialties, led by those who work at the station in Philly. Those who complete the program write, edit, and record a story of their own concerning an event or development in their community that is broadcast live. This allows them to attend the graduation ceremony held in their honor and become a part of the Newstudies Class of 2024.
After being recommended by our English and Journalism teacher Mrs. Cooper, we were accepted and learned that the program takes place through sessions each Saturday morning. Each session began with a panel discussion put on by local reporters about a current event or their experiences as journalists. The group of approximately 60 students (made up of sophomores, juniors, and seniors) were split up for smaller lessons with their teacher, a reporter or editor who worked at the station. These portions honed in on our writing skills by teaching us the best way to write a concise radio-friendly story, concerning hooks, sentence structure, tone, and raw sound usage. Our teacher also helped us work on each of our individual stories as we developed our ideas.
On the first Saturday, we arrived at the Audacy Building on Market Street and headed up to the fourth floor. The elevator lobby was submerged in deep purple and blue lights that made the entrance to the main area even more exciting. After signing in with officials from the Klein College at Temple University, who sponsor the program, we took our seats and introduced ourselves to those around us. We met people from all parts of New Jersey and its surrounding states, all anxious yet eager to be in attendance.
The first panel was held by reporters who discussed the 2024 Presidential Election and how to separate facts from misinformation when browsing social media. They emphasized how reporting changes as the political climate changes, and the struggles of staying unbiased when reporting. Once we broke out into our small groups, they gave us the deadlines of our projects and reminded us of the basic principles of journalism. After a quick lesson on journalistic ethics and the differences between stories written for the radio, we got to go home with our new bags and Temple merchandise.
The next weekend followed a format similar to the first, except this time, we were the ones addressing our fellow students. After a panel featuring social media representatives and various reporters, we learned more about how to write a strong story. They emphasized having an engaging ending that brings the story full circle alongside the best ways to interview someone. This continuation of our lesson from last week prepared us to interview each other and report back what we learned to our peers. Thy and I presented what we learned, or pretended to learn, about each other’s extracurriculars, and many other pairs did the same. This allowed us to connect more with those around us and strengthened the friendships we were forming. We then broke into our groups and practiced writing 30-second stories to prepare us for our final projects.
The third Saturday of the program allowed us to dive even deeper into the world of broadcast journalism. This third session was particularly interesting because it featured a panel of journalists who worked in various fields, each bringing their own unique perspective and stories on their area of expertise. For the first hour, we listened to the journalists and reporters talk about entertainment journalism, sports reporting, digital media, journalism ethics, and political journalism.
Each speaker shared their own personal experiences and stories, whether it was covering a big sports event, keeping up with the fast-growing digital world, or dealing with ethical challenges in reporting. A few of them talked about how AI is starting to play a role in journalism and how it can be both helpful and risky when it comes to utilizing it. Others explained how social media has changed the way people receive news, making it easier to access but also more difficult to trust. Overall, the discussion highlighted the ever-changing and evolving nature of journalism and why it’s so important to report news responsibly and ethically.
The fourth and final Saturday of the program was our official recording day. After weeks of working on our stories including brainstorming ideas, writing drafts, and making edits, it was finally time to get it on tape and bring our writings to life. One by one, we were called into the recording room, where we sat in front of a radio microphone, surrounded by editing equipment. Conor Barkon, a writer and reporter at KYW, was there to guide us through the process. He explained how to position ourselves in front of the microphone, how to voice our words, and how to pace our speech so it could fit the time limit of 30 seconds while sounding clear and professional.
After a few takes, we finished recording. Connor showed us how he edited our audio. He went through each file, cutting our pauses, adjusting volume levels, and making small tweaks to make our stories radio-ready. Once he was done, he played back each of our recordings so we could hear the final version that would air live on the KYW radio. At the end of the session, he also gave us the exact date and time our segments would air.
On December 14, 2024, the KYW Newstudies Class of 2024 gathered at Temple University for our graduation ceremony. The event was held to show off all the hard work we graduates had accomplished and celebrate everything we had learned over the past four weeks. The auditorium was filled with parents, friends, and KYW mentors, all excited to recognize our hard work and accomplishments. As the ceremony started, we walked down the center aisle and took our seats in the front rows. The stage was set with a podium and a large KYW Newsradio banner.
The event kicked off with speeches from program organizers and representatives from Klein College. They talked about the long history of the KYW Newstudies program, which has been giving high school students hands-on journalism experience since 1968. We also heard from professional reporters Nina Baratti and Claire Smith from KYW Newsradio, who shared their experiences working in the industry. They talked about both the challenges and rewards of journalism and even gave us the chance to ask questions about their careers and advice for the future. Then one by one, our names were called, and we walked across the stage to receive our KYW Newstudies Certificate of Completion and shook hands with the program leaders, and posed for photos. After everyone received their certificates, they announced three special awards. The Best Use of Sound, The Outstanding Achievement Award, and the $2,000 scholarship. As the ceremony wrapped up, we took photos with our friends and families, celebrating everything we had accomplished.
Being a part of the KYW Newstudies program has been an incredible experience, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to learn from professional journalists and gain hands-on experience in the industry. Over the past weeks, we’ve honed our writing, reporting, and storytelling skills, allowing us to gain a deeper appreciation for journalism. We’re especially thankful to have been recommended for this program and for the support of our teachers and mentors!