Deadline for budding media pack

By Fiona Stalker
BBC Scotland, Aberdeen

Fiona Stalker has been mentoring some of the pupils

The adrenalin is pumping, scripts are being finalised and scoops nailed down.

The second BBC School News Report is just hours away.

The deadlines are real, the audiences are real and the stories are real.

It is my second year of being involved in the project.

It began as a pilot last year when I mentored a fantastically enthusiastic 1st year class from Bridge of Don Academy in Aberdeen.

During our new planning meetings, the pupils themselves came up with a story agenda which included interviewing Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) players on their thoughts on their manager, and a feature on a up-and-coming local band which had reached a UK Battle of the Bands final.

The pupils were praised for their questions and conduct by all interviewees, who also included a local MP, the lord provost, and pilots from RAF Lossiemouth.

In fact, AFC captain at the time Russell Anderson told me: "I think some of the national papers could take a leaf out of the pupils' books when it comes to behaviour at press conferences"

Throughout the mentoring experience, I've been struck by the passion that the pupils have shown for the project

This year, more schools are involved throughout the country.

I've been matched with two new schools - Kincorth Academy in Aberdeen and The Gordon Schools in Aberdeenshire.

Football always seems to be a top priority for the young news teams. Both schools have sent reporters to interview players at Pittodrie.

The Gordon Schools has produced its own home grown sporting talent and reporters there were keen to profile them for School Report Day.

Kincorth Academy's team interviewed Aberdeen's world lightweight champion boxer Lee McAllister.

'Sniff out stories'

They have also prepared a feature on their local area and have an entertainments team chasing showbiz interviews.

Throughout the mentoring experience, I've been struck by the passion that the pupils have shown for the project.

It's a great experience. Their knowledge of news increased. The pupils are watching, reading and listening to more news. And above all it's fun

Their desire to hunt down and sniff out stories is impressive.

One teacher described the state of their efforts so far as "organised chaos". I assured her that probably meant they were doing exactly the right things.

It's a great experience. The students' work is showcased to a huge audience. Their knowledge of news increased. The pupils are watching, reading and listening to more news. And above all it's fun.

My favourite quote from last year? I asked one pupil if he would now consider a career as a journalist after taking part in School Report.

He considered the question for some time before replying "Only if all else fails...". Well, you can't win them all.

'Food for thought'

Fellow Aberdeen broadcast journalist Ken Gibson added: "I've been working with students at Bridge of Don Academy - the school which took part in last year's pilot project.

"The class of 1st years have been hugely enthusiastic.

"I went up to the school to meet them back in December at the start of this year's project. I explained what we do here at the BBC newsroom in Aberdeen, then set them a test.

"I gave them all the stories from that morning's local radio bulletin, in random order, and asked them to prioritise the stories they thought were the most important.

"Some were pretty close to what we'd actually broadcast.

"Others gave us some food for thought about how we treat some stories ourselves.

"As someone who'd never set foot in a school classroom since the age of 18, it was fascinating watching them discuss what the running order should be.

"They've had lots of good ideas for stories and have approached the whole project with much enthusiasm - which has been a real joy for us old hacks to see."