This is Boot Camp

It's Journalism boot camp. Please bear with my military metaphor, but from the first day we stepped into the Cronkite institute, from ASU tour to Diamondbacks tonight, we've been on high-pressure information overload.
That first day we were given our uniforms and weapons; now we wield those flashy notebooks, lanyard press passes and neon blue and green water bottles with pride.
Day 2 felt like we stepped onto the front lines with a First Amendment CEO, Ken Paulson, followed by the intense reporting exercise. We understood the nature of the simulation, but the actors took it seriously.  I couldn't even remember the names of the people that I was teamed up with, and we were supposed to report on this crime like real journalists. I felt so out of my league.
Then it hit me. My students need this too. They need to be stretched and challenged in ways that make them better journalists, reporters, and interviewers. They need to be treated like professionals. They need to have that instant feedback and to learn what it took to get that bonus information from the actors.
This was a valuable exercise for me, and I believe that I can bring it back to school with me. I have already talked with the Mock Trial teacher, and she wants us to use her group for the simulation next year.
This institute feels like a whirlwind. I think I'll need the rest of the summer just to process the information from these two weeks, and I'm certain that I'll need refreshers. Then, watch out King's High School. I'll be back, and I'm bringing a fire for Journalism back with me from Phoenix!

PS. Removing the oxford commas from my lists above took some emotional release, but they are gone now. :0)

With Gratefulness,

Stephanie Platter
King's High School
Seattle