Students At The Beckham Academy Make The News...For Real!

Friday, December 10, 2004

Yes, the students are in the news but not on local television. They're on inside-the-school television ...channel 83 to be exact.

 Every morning at 9:35, student reporters, the student camera operator, the student floor manager and more, put their skills to work and present a full blown newscast that ranges from a main news story to news from the principal's desk to the 'word for the day.' At Beckham they've taken the term news team to the nth degree. Jacqueline Blakey, a Beckham teacher and the engineer, Harold Elledge, produce the show. William Roby, also a teacher, painted the backdrop for the set to make it look more professional, and the students do just about everything else. The daily broadcast is an incentive for students to work hard and 'get a shot at the big time.' It also helps them with research, reading, public speaking, social studies, accountability, and gives them a real opportunity to find out what it's like to be a part of a newscast. A little creativity goes a long way, and the staff at Beckham is certainly proving it with their budding media stars.