On Our Minds Podcast

Create an AUDIO STORY about yourself or a student(s) in your community who experiences mental health challenges. What has their experience been like? What resources, tips, or tactics have they found to help them deal with these challenges?

Edited audio stories should be max. 5 minutes in length.

**IMPORTANT: In your story, please use FIRST names only for young people under 18.**

OPTION 1: Personal Story (all levels)

• Students narrate what they are doing and how they are feeling throughout the course of their day or over a period of time -or- students retell a story that happened in the past
• Include AUDIO SCENES to illustrate your story (for example: recording audio of you typing on a computer; sitting in on a Zoom class; the sounds of cooking; your family dinner conversations; your track practice; practicing an instrument, etc)
• AUDIO DIARY EXAMPLE: Kids These Days: What’s it like living with anxiety?

OPTION 2: Conversation (intermediate)

• A student reporter interviews another student who experiences some kind of mental health challenge: what is their experience really like? and what advice do they have for other young people?
• Both voices are included in the piece -- sounds like a conversation
• The interview is edited for clarity and brevity
• Ask your subject to record AUDIO SCENES to illustrate their story (see above for examples)
• CONVERSATION EXAMPLE: Oregon Students Fight for Mental Health Days

OPTION 3: Investigative Story (intermediate/advanced)

• A student reporter takes listeners on a journey investigating a specific topic (for example, social isolation)
• Includes a VOICE TRACK (like voice over) from the student reporter throughout the story: introducing the topic, explaining why the reporter is curious and what questions they hope to answer, introduces characters, includes statistics and data, and adds a conclusion
• Story includes interviews with at least one young person (for example, a school counselor and two students experiencing a certain mental health challenge)
• Ask your subjects to record AUDIO SCENES to illustrate their story (see above for examples)
• INVESTIGATION EXAMPLE: Kids These Days: Perfection

Step One: Find a subject and ask if they’d like to participate

Step Two: Fill out the SRL AUDIO PITCH SHEET and return it to your teacher

Step Three: Write your interview questions or plan out your audio diary

Step Four: SCHEDULE your interview and PREPARE your subject

• A teacher should be present for all interviews
• Participants (and their parents if students are under 18) should sign a media release form before conducting interviews if your school has one.
  • We strongly recommend students read this blurb at the beginning of all interviews:

READ TO YOUR SUBJECT:

Before we begin, I want you to know that your story will be edited and may be included in a series by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. This podcast will be available to the public. That’s why it’s so important for you to only share what you’re comfortable with everybody knowing about you. If I ask you any questions that make you feel uncomfortable, you don’t need to answer them. And if you want to stop at any time, just let me know.

Also, we have a lot of resources at https://studentreportinglabs.org/mentalhealthresources/. To provide additional support, my teacher (or Youth Media Producer) is on this interview with us. Does all of this sound OK? Do you have any questions or concerns before we start?” [If subject is under 18, add:] “And how would you like to be named in the edited audio story--first name only? Or do you prefer to remain completely anonymous?”

Step Five: RECORD your interview or audio diary

Step Six: Record AUDIO SCENES

Step Seven: TRANSCRIBE your interview or audio diary

• Highlight best soundbites
• Make a SCRIPT with the best soundbites and audio scenes

Step Eight: Write and record your voiceover/VOICE TRACK. Voice track should include:

Example: “Before we get started, we want to let you know that we talk about depression in this story. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, we have a list of resources available to help. It’s at the website [insert SRL website page]”.

• An INTRODUCTION to introduce the topic and why you are reporting on it or why it matters to young people. Then introduce your first character.
• CREDITS at the very end: read off the names of students who worked on the episode, your teacher, and your SRL Youth Media Producer.

Step Nine: EDIT your audio story using any audio or video software or app

Step Ten: SUBMIT the script AND rough cut to your teacher

• Get feedback from your teacher, ask clarifying questions, edit a fine cut
• Get additional feedback from your teacher and then edit a final cut

This challenge/project does not have an active deadline to submit to PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. However, students are encouraged to publish their stories on their school/club/program website or through video/social platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or Twitter and tag Student Reporting Labs. The On Our Minds podcast is an ongoing series with new episodes every year so don't forget to tag us if you'd like for us to hear your story. Check with your teacher to find out instructions for class submissions.

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TWITTER: @REPORTINGLABS

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