Although it's not exactly radio, students can report news over the school's public announcement system, similar to a radio broadcast. Discuss with the principal the possibility of having your students take turns giving a daily news report. One student will research several news stories and write a brief summary of each event. Then, at a time of day most appropriate, that student will use the PA system to report on local, national and international current events. This activity not only familiarizes students with the process of broadcast journalism, but requires the use of good writing and speaking skills.
For years, schools across the country have taken advantage of Channel One news, a special news broadcast specifically created for students. Instead of watching other people report news, start your own school news channel. Most schools have a local cable channel on which they display school information, report delays or cancellations and show school sporting events. Using the same system, videotape students giving news reports and ask each classroom to tune in. They can report on school events as well as community, state, or worldwide current events. Create a newsroom where students can sit down at a desk while giving their reports.
Broadcast journalism is not only about seeing a person or hearing a voice. It includes the Internet, where news stories spring up every minute. To use this resource in the classroom, let your students take advantage of the publishing phenomenon of blogging. Create a blog in your name, but have students write the posted news reports. They can work in teams of writers and editors. One student will write a news article and another student will edit the report. When finished, the article should be given to you to post. This could function as an online school newspaper or just a class activity in broadcast journalism.
Sometimes news is just meant to entertain. Ask students to write a relaxed script summarizing a novel they read, explaining why they chose to read that particular book and giving their opinion about the author's work. Using that script, students should create a podcast. Talk to your school's technology coordinator about getting the equipment necessary for recording voice in an MP3 file format. Get permission to post the podcasts on the school website or the website of a local community library.