What's Up Trojans? Young journalists producing newspaper at Tuscarawas Valley Elementary

Andrew Dolph, The Times-Reporter
Updated ·3 min read

ZOARVILLE — Tuscarawas Valley Elementary students in fourth through sixth grade are learning to create a newspaper during an after-school program called TV Times. Taught by Jamie Horger and her colleague Sarah Witting, the hourlong class will meet every Tuesday through Dec. 12. The goal is to produce one or two newspapers.

"All students in grades (kindergarten through sixth) were given a list of after-school programs, the target grade levels for each, the day of the week the program is offered, and a description of each. There were no teacher names associated with the program names. Students and/or parents signed up for the programs based on their interests and availability in their schedules," Horger said.

Addison Miller, who wants to be a news photographer, takes notes about how to create a newspaper during a special afterschool program at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School. Times-Reporter staff writer Jon Baker was invited to answer questions about the process of creating newspapers.
Addison Miller, who wants to be a news photographer, takes notes about how to create a newspaper during a special afterschool program at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School. Times-Reporter staff writer Jon Baker was invited to answer questions about the process of creating newspapers.

But to learn a bit more about the process and in turn help develop a production roadmap for the students, veteran Times-Reporter staff writer Jon Baker, who has more than 40 years experience, was called upon to answer students' questions.

Times-Reporter staff writer Jon Baker takes questions from students learning to create a newspaper during an after-school program run by teachers Jamie Horger and Sarah Witting at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School.
Times-Reporter staff writer Jon Baker takes questions from students learning to create a newspaper during an after-school program run by teachers Jamie Horger and Sarah Witting at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School.

A lot has changed about the business of reproducing the printed word since German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg first began designing the moveable-type printing press in 1436. For instance, back then molten lead was poured into molds in order to create letters, numbers, and marks of punctuation stored in two cases – an upper and lower case, which gave way to us referring to them as such today. Nowadays, a more modernized process of web offset printing in which giant reels of newsprint and four colors of ink race across printing press towers that all occupy cavernous press rooms.

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Creating a production plan

Students were enthusiastic to learn about what it takes to do the work once traditionally reserved for ‘newspapermen’. One student, Addison Miller, excitedly exclaimed that she wants to be a photographer, while meticulously taking notes about the process.

The students compiled a list of questions for Baker, followed by an interactive question and answer session.

Jamie Horger, fourth grade math and science teacher at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School, makes notes on how to create a newspaper during a special after-school program. Times Reporter staff writer Jon Baker was invited to answer questions about the process of creating newspapers.
Jamie Horger, fourth grade math and science teacher at Tuscarawas Valley Intermediate School, makes notes on how to create a newspaper during a special after-school program. Times Reporter staff writer Jon Baker was invited to answer questions about the process of creating newspapers.

Their questions included:

  • How do you write a crossword puzzle?

  • Is it hard to publish a newspaper?

  • How do you get people to like your newspaper?

  • How long does it take to write a newspaper?

  • How many newspapers have you been in?

  • How many newspapers should we print for our school? (We end Dec. 14th and have 9 more classes to go.)

  • Which roles are needed for the paper?

  • What's some important stuff to write about?

  • How many people do you suggest it takes to write a newspaper?

The students' newspaper will be called What's Up Trojans? and its collective target audience is students, staff and families.

Students decided which topics would be covered by taking a vote. Their publication will include TVES sports, an entertainment section potentially containing comics, jokes, puzzles and riddles, student and staff highlights, TVES event review, a how-to section, TVES building project update, and school-related advertisements.

"We certainly planned to target students who love to write. We also want to encourage our students to look for and promote the positive things happening in our school. We have discussed the importance of getting info firsthand with students," Horger said.

T-R staff photographer Andrew Dolph can be reached by phone at 330-289-6072 or by email at adolph3@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas Valley Elementary students creating their own newspaper