Hamilton High School students apply audio journalism to a classic novel
More than 75 Hamilton, Montana teens reported audio stories about their first-hand experiences of themes from the classic novel The Crucible. Last fall, the Montana Media Lab led a workshop with 11th grade English students at Hamilton High School. in their daily lives. They reported stories on themes from judgement to paranoia, and those stories offered a view into their lives as teens in rural Montana.
When the Media Lab team arrived, students were apprehensive about their new roles as audio storytellers. But instructors taught the teens how to use audio equipment, and identify an important story. They quickly set to work and found their storytelling voices. The 26 stories they produced highlighted Hamilton teens’ dynamic experiences.
Over the course of the workshop students interviewed guests, researched topic ideas, and wrote scripts for their stories. In the end their stories covered topics from social media and flag football, to witches and hunting in the forests of Montana.
MML staff and teachers alike learned alongside the students as they were granted a window into the lives of teenagers today. The results painted a picture of a younger generation who are thinking about big ideas and how their lives are affected by events happening around them. They showed us that they are a varied and passionate generation who are ready to speak up, and have fun while they engage with the world.
The workshop concluded by showcasing their projects for family and friends to hear. More than 50 members of the community gathered at Hamilton Performing Arts Center to hear from the audio storytellers about their experience, and listen to their final stories.
You can listen to a few of the student-produced stories below.