STORY CITY, Iowa — Students at an advanced English class at Roland- Story High School have entered a contest, which is also a course to train future journalists.

“Procrastinating one day, trying not to grade papers probably, and just got a promotional email. It caught my eyes, subject line, and so I clicked on it,” said Thomas Klett, an English teacher at Roland-Story High School. “I looked at it and it sounded interesting.”

Klett looked at this project as something students couldn’t just write with AI.

“I’m always thinking about what are some ways to come up with AI-proof assignments, I suppose and it seemed like a really good one.” 

“Join a nationwide contest by submitting the best news report from your classroom,” said the NBCU Academy website. “Three middle school classrooms and three high school classrooms will be selected as winners to receive prizes from NBCU Academy and Adobe such as GoPro equipment, Fandango gift cards and branded merchandise.”

In this contest students are challenged to use their cellphone video cameras to record stories. The students will edit the video on Chromebooks using Adobe Express. Adobe is a sponsor of NBCU Academy.

David Necochea is the Director of Photography for NBC news. He spoke to the class on video on where to place the camera, and something called a “rule of thirds,” which shows how to frame interviews to make the story look better. He also discussed lighting, and the best way to make an interview subject look better. 

The students first worked to plan their assignments.

“So, our video is going to be a mental health focus,” said Rylee Wolff, a senior at Roland-Story. we’re gonna really tie down the components of community involvement, and how that can improve your mental health.”

Several groups of students will produce a story. For the class final, the students will vote on the best story. It will be submitted to the NBCU Academy.

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