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School reporters ready to go live School reporters ready to go live
(about 4 hours later)
Thousands of young people across the UK are organising their own news programmes in a BBC-led project.Thousands of young people across the UK are organising their own news programmes in a BBC-led project.
More than 500 schools are taking part in the third year of School Report.More than 500 schools are taking part in the third year of School Report.
Obesity, music piracy, "Sats" tests, teenagers' behaviour and schools with dozens of different languages spoken are among the topics being tackled.Obesity, music piracy, "Sats" tests, teenagers' behaviour and schools with dozens of different languages spoken are among the topics being tackled.
Students have been out filming or interviewing for television, radio or text based reports which are live on school websites from 26 March.Students have been out filming or interviewing for television, radio or text based reports which are live on school websites from 26 March.
The BBC aims to link to as many websites as possible on the day.The BBC aims to link to as many websites as possible on the day.
Obesity is on the menu for students at Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College in Bradford.Obesity is on the menu for students at Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College in Bradford.
They have been out filming in their city and investigating the problem.They have been out filming in their city and investigating the problem.
We hope that some people who watch our programme might be affected by it and stop being obese Alice, 12We hope that some people who watch our programme might be affected by it and stop being obese Alice, 12
"We found Bradford is the most obese city," said 12-year-old Alice, "and we hope that some people who watch our programme might be affected by it and stop being obese."We found Bradford is the most obese city," said 12-year-old Alice, "and we hope that some people who watch our programme might be affected by it and stop being obese.
"That has been the most exciting part of the project for me.""That has been the most exciting part of the project for me."
Thirteen-year-old Holly said the investigation included an interview with a doctor doing a long-term study of babies born in Bradford.Thirteen-year-old Holly said the investigation included an interview with a doctor doing a long-term study of babies born in Bradford.
"It is looking at babies, seeing what their health is like and looking at the diet and exercise they have and that of their parents," she said."It is looking at babies, seeing what their health is like and looking at the diet and exercise they have and that of their parents," she said.
Some pupils researched obesity As many as 25,000 pupils have been involved
The team - which volunteered to stay after-school to take part in School Report - looked at sports facilities in Bradford and found them wanting.The team - which volunteered to stay after-school to take part in School Report - looked at sports facilities in Bradford and found them wanting.
Teacher Mhairi Constable said students had linked various angles in their story.Teacher Mhairi Constable said students had linked various angles in their story.
"They looked at the brand new buildings here at the school and how the school is dealing with healthy eating," she said."They looked at the brand new buildings here at the school and how the school is dealing with healthy eating," she said.
"They have tried to tie in big stories nationally with the area and their school."They have tried to tie in big stories nationally with the area and their school.
"They have looked at outdated swimming pools and even interviewed the sports minister.""They have looked at outdated swimming pools and even interviewed the sports minister."
Like many schools in the project, Buttershaw was given a BBC mentor to give advice or run sessions on what they could do. For the BBC, it is a chance to reach out to its audience and engage young people in news - one of its public service remits.Like many schools in the project, Buttershaw was given a BBC mentor to give advice or run sessions on what they could do. For the BBC, it is a chance to reach out to its audience and engage young people in news - one of its public service remits.
Paul Deal, from the BBC College of Journalism, is one of about 500 BBC staff going into schools to help students with their projects.Paul Deal, from the BBC College of Journalism, is one of about 500 BBC staff going into schools to help students with their projects.
It's like the first stage of BBC work experience Paul Deal, BBC College of JournalismIt's like the first stage of BBC work experience Paul Deal, BBC College of Journalism
He has been very impressed with the speed with which the group has grasped some of important points of journalism.He has been very impressed with the speed with which the group has grasped some of important points of journalism.
He has spent time working with the students on ideas such as "what makes news?" and an exercise where they looked at news running in various media - such as online, on television, in local newspapers - and had to draw up their own running orders for a news programme.He has spent time working with the students on ideas such as "what makes news?" and an exercise where they looked at news running in various media - such as online, on television, in local newspapers - and had to draw up their own running orders for a news programme.
"Some did quite traditional running orders - Gaza and the economy were big stories that week - and others took very different approaches," he said."Some did quite traditional running orders - Gaza and the economy were big stories that week - and others took very different approaches," he said.
"One team came up with a running order which was based on strong human interest stories. And the next day, some of the national newspapers led on some of those same stories.""One team came up with a running order which was based on strong human interest stories. And the next day, some of the national newspapers led on some of those same stories."
In planning their report on obesity, Paul talked to pupils about the need not to embarrass overweight people.In planning their report on obesity, Paul talked to pupils about the need not to embarrass overweight people.
"We tried not to get people in the film, or not to show their faces," said Holly."We tried not to get people in the film, or not to show their faces," said Holly.
Work experienceWork experience
It is Mr Deal's third year of involvement in School Report - and something he would not have missed. In other years he has been involved in schools in Liverpool and Manchester.It is Mr Deal's third year of involvement in School Report - and something he would not have missed. In other years he has been involved in schools in Liverpool and Manchester.
"It's tremendously stimulating and rewarding work. Doing School Report has been one of the highlights of my time at the BBC," he said."It's tremendously stimulating and rewarding work. Doing School Report has been one of the highlights of my time at the BBC," he said.
It had been wonderful, he said, to see pupils picking up journalistic skills and understanding news, but also to encourage them to consider working in the BBC or other media when they are older.It had been wonderful, he said, to see pupils picking up journalistic skills and understanding news, but also to encourage them to consider working in the BBC or other media when they are older.
As someone involved in recruiting future BBC journalists, it is a message he was glad to spread personally.As someone involved in recruiting future BBC journalists, it is a message he was glad to spread personally.
"It's like the first stage of BBC work experience, because they are getting to know how we do things," he said."It's like the first stage of BBC work experience, because they are getting to know how we do things," he said.
"I encourage them to apply for work experience or to apply for jobs with us."I encourage them to apply for work experience or to apply for jobs with us.
"With the BBC moving some of its operations to Salford, there will be opportunities for them there. I like the idea of raising aspirations and saying we would be interested in them if they are prepared to work hard.""With the BBC moving some of its operations to Salford, there will be opportunities for them there. I like the idea of raising aspirations and saying we would be interested in them if they are prepared to work hard."