Student Journalists Report on How Gun Violence Affects Youth
Ask students: Why might young people making a documentary about gun violence be different than adults making it?
Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S., but much of the coverage about it is made by and for adults. PBS News Hour's Student Reporting Labs handed cameras to 14 young journalists and their work is part of the documentary, “Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun." In this excerpt, Alexis and Brianna Schmidt talk to classmates about living through a mass shooting.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- What is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S.?
- Who is Maya Manuel?
- How did MSU students' perception of safety on campus change over time?
- Where and at what age do mosts students begin practicing lockdown drills?
- Why might young people making a documentary about gun violence be different than adults making it?
Focus Questions
- How did this story impact you? What points discussed in this story stuck out to you the most?
- What changes do you think could be made to decrease the gun violence epidemic in America?
- Media literacy: What questions do you have about safety questions in your community as it pertains to gun violence? Who else would you want to interview for this story?
Extension Activity
Learn more using this accompanying Google doc student guide, which includes questions before and after you watch the film. You will be prompted to make a copy.
Watch the full documentary below.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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