We talk a lot in education about the importance of ensuring that pupils are media literate and can spot fake news or bias in something they read to help prepare them for the future.
It’s something we have always strived to do through numerous activities at our school. But a few years ago we realised we could do more, not least by getting our students to actively think like journalists and understand the realities of how news is produced and consumed.
In 2023 at Light International School Mombasa we set up a dedicated Journalism Day: rather than students passively learning about media, they become “journalists” capturing real stories from within their school community and beyond.
Teaching students about journalism
The work for Journalism Day begins several weeks in advance, when students in Year 10 are tasked with creating either a written feature or a video documentary on a topic of their choice.
This project forms part of a broader extracurricular and curricular framework, including our Service Learning programme and the STEAM Club, as well as the Cambridge Global Perspectives syllabus, which is an integral part of the curriculum.
Students work with teachers to decide on the topic they want to cover and discuss the research methods, storytelling techniques and ethical responsibilities of journalism, to ensure everything is accurate and balanced throughout the process.
Drawing on their experiences in the work we do with our Model United Nations (MUN), students often use their journalistic reports to focus on global issues, covering topics such as environmental policies, social policies and international relations - or sometimes social and youth cultural issues, too.
Some examples include:
- Environment: a documentary on turtle conservation and soil erosion, combining climate change education, research and expert interviews.
- Science: a feature on solar dryers and water purification systems, demonstrating practical science applications.
- Global citizenship: coverage of Cambridge Global Perspectives projects, including initiatives like building a library in Makanzani Primary School and renovation of classrooms in Kashani Primary School.
- Society: Gaming is Not a Crime, a student-led production that challenges stereotypes about gaming culture, where students act as both filmmakers and actors.
Presenting their findings
Then on Journalism Day all students present their work to their peers.
In the morning this is done with our primary pupils, which means adapting content to ensure that it is suitable for them - a good example of how to tailor content for different audiences. In the afternoon they present again to the whole school.
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Of course, as well as helping students to focus on accuracy in their stories, it also helps them to practise public speaking and presenting skills. After their presentations, students take questions from the audience, turning the event into a lively and interactive experience.
The need for thorough research becomes even more apparent during these Q&A sessions, as students must be well-prepared to respond confidently.
What’s more, the event is student-led, with the student council taking charge of the programme. The masters of ceremony are student council members, including the governor of academics, governor of environment and governor of technology.
Journalism Day has already become one of the most anticipated events of the school year, merging creativity, critical thinking and real-world application.
We’ve also noticed that there has been a clear increase in interest in our wider Journalism Club since doing this, with more opportunities for students to take part in producing our school magazine and further the skills they have learned.
Perhaps most importantly, Journalism Day ensures that in a world where information shapes perspectives, students are proactively developing the ability to research, analyse and critically engage with news and media - helping them to become informed, articulate and responsible global citizens.
Ildar Iliazov is principal of Light International School Mombasa in Kenya
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