Chattanooga: Young broadcasters

Fame has its perks.

Not the least of which is the adoration of classmates, say Brown Academy fifth-graders who produce their school’s daily newscast, Brown International News.

“I like being famous to the little kids,” said Melody Ormond, 10, who hosts a segment displaying the school’s lost-and-found items. “Every day they’re like, ‘Hey, you’re on the news.’”

“A lot of people watch it, and I make a lot of friends,” added Max Radu.

The daily five-minute broadcast is shown in each classroom via closed-circuit television. It has even boosted the visibility of Principal Lea Ann Burk, who is on TV each day talking about her monthly book club.

“The little ones will tell me, ‘I saw you on the news,’ not ‘You’re the principal,’ ” she said.

Spanish teacher Shannon Morrow dreamed up Brown International News last year as a way to broadcast daily announcements without periodic interruptions from an intercom. Students practice from 8 to 8:10 a.m., and the broadcast begins immediately after.

The fifth-graders have taken ownership of the program, Ms. Morrow said, and now write their own content, including segments on the weather, announcements, schoolwide service projects and an International Baccalaureate character trait of the day.

“We wanted to highlight things that are going on in the classroom,” she said. “And the more they can take control of their own learning, the better.”

Some news items have a lighter feel, such as guest-anchor Max’s Thanksgiving-themed trivia.

“Eight is the number of townships in the United States that are named ‘Cranberry,’ ” he read from his highlighted script, hands crossed on the news desk.

A new group of six students is chosen to produce the broadcast every quarter. Students must fill out an application and go through an interview process before being selected, Ms. Morrow said. Last quarter, she received 35 applications for the six positions.

“When report cards come out, everyone knows it’s time for interviews,” Ms. Burk said. “There’s already a buzz in the fifth grade over who’s going to apply.”

At the end of each week, students who show up to “work” on the broadcast, get paid with Brown Bucks and can purchase items from the school’s store, Ms. Morrow said.

After Ms. Burk’s review of “The Tale of Despereaux” on Tuesday and a guest appearance by first-graders performing the Mexican Hat Dance in authentic garb, the show is over.

With a wave of her hand and a clap, Ms. Morrow turns off the camera and it’s time for the producers to head back to class.

“Awesome, everybody! That’s a wrap!”