We Say #NeverAgain: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists

by Melissa Falkowski (Editor), Eric Garner (Editor)

Overview

A journalistic look at the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and the fight for gun control--as told by the student reporters for the school's newspaper and TV station.

This timely and media-driven approach to the Parkland shooting, as reported by teens in the journalism and broadcasting programs and in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas newspaper, is an inside look at that tragic day and the events that followed that only they could tell.

It showcases how the teens have become media savvy and the skills they have learned and honed--harnessing social media, speaking to the press, and writing effective op-eds. Students will also share specific insight into what it has been like being approached by the press and how that has informed the way they interview their own subjects.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984849960
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	10/02/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	1,158,857
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

Melissa Falkowski is the journalism teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and Eric Garner is the broadcasting teacher. After the tragic February day in Parkland, they knew that the voices of their students needed to be heard. WE SAY #NEVER AGAIN is their story--written by the journalism students and creators of the school newspaper, The Eagle Eye.

Read an Excerpt

The Events of February 14
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "We Say #NeverAgain: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Melissa Falkowski.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Children's Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction

The Events of February 14 Melissa Falkowski 1

Getting to Work on the Newspaper Melissa Falkowski 10

Finding the Light Eric Garner 14

Part 1 Activism

Pushed into the Spotlight Delaney Tarr 21

Sweating Under the Spotlight: Recognition and Responsibility Nikhita Nookala 25

The Role of a Journalist: Exposing the Epidemic of Gun Violence Rebecca Schneid 30

Extraordinary Acts

Senior Brandon Huff Tries to Run into Freshman Building to Save His Girlfriend 34

Guide from a Journalist on the Other Side: The Dos and Don'ts for Journalists Covering Tragedies Carly Novell 37

An Outsider's Perspective Lewis Mizen 42

From Victims to Villains Rebecca Schneid 47

Extraordinary Acts

Freshman Chris McKenna Comes into Contact with Gunman Minutes Before Shooting 52

Managing Your Own Bias in Reporting Suzanna Barna 54

Speaking Out for Those Who Can't Delaney Tarr 58

Not Just a Walk to the Park: Covering Civil Disobedience Christy Ma 62

Extraordinary Acts

Senior Kelly Plaur Protects Her Teacher from Gunfire 66

Tweeting for Change: An Interview with Carlitos Rodriguez Daniela Infantino 69

Holding Politicians to Account Ryan Deitsch 75

Shining a Light on Gun Violence: Diverse Perspectives Richard Doan 80

Extraordinary Acts

Psychology Teacher Ronit Reoven Provides First Aid to Injured Students 89

Coping with Trauma While Keeping Emotions in Check Rebecca Schneid 92

From Parkland to Pennsylvania Avenue: Putting Together a National Movement Delaney Tarr 99

Extraordinary Acts

Junior Lorenzo Prado Is Falsely Identified as a Suspect in Shooting 104

Photographing Revolution: The Parkland March Josh Riemer 108

Team Reporting

The March For Our Lives, D.C.-Covering History in the Making 112

Extraordinary Acts

JROTC Students Help Shield Others Behind Kevlar Sheets Inside Classroom 128

Interviewing Bernie Sanders Dara Rosen 130

Part 2 MSD Strong

Trapped Augustus Griffith Jr. 137

A Nightmare Invades My Reality Andy Pedroza 144

Extraordinary Acts

Freshman Jason Snytte Saved His Classmates by Shutting His Class Door 151

Through New Eyes: From Student to Photojournalist Kevin Trejos 153

Eulogizing Friends and Covering Tragedy Nikhita Nookala 157

Balancing Guilt with Opportunities Carly Novell 161

Extraordinary Acts

Culinary Arts Teacher Ashley Kurth Pulls Students Fleeing Freshman Building into Safety 165

The Evolution of the Eagle Eye Website Christy Ma 168

The Parkland March For Our Lives: Two Perspectives Augustus Griffith Jr. Sam Grizelj 171

Extraordinary Acts

Ernie Rospierski, Social Studies Teacher, Shields Students from Shooter 176

Healing Through Journalism Suzanna Barna 179

What It's Like to Work with Mass Media Zakari Kostzer 183

Using Work on the Documentary as an Escape Chris Cahill 186

Part 3 What Comes Next

Starting a Grassroots Movement: A Quick Guide Delaney Tarr 195

Extraordinary Acts

Sgt. Jeff Heinrich, Off-Duty Officer, Saves Student and Secures Building 198

Becoming an Activist in Your School Suzanna Barna 201

A Guide to Reaching Out and Speaking to Politicians Lewis Mizen 205

Controlling the Interview: How to Avoid Saying Something You Don't Believe Nikhita Nookala 208

Leveraging Social Media David Hogg 212

Extraordinary Acts

Charlie Rothkopf and Victoria Proietto Save Fellow Student During Shooting 219

Speaking from the Heart Tyra Hemans 222

Self-Care: Managing Your Trauma Leni Steinhardt 230

Day to Day: What Will the Future Bring? Daniel Cuervo 234

The Road to Change David Hogg 237

Independent Student-Run Newsrooms: An Imperative for High Schools Nationwide Melissa Falkowski 243

Honoring Our Fallen Eagles 247

MSD Media Awards and Accolades 249

Meet the Contributors 253

Editorial Reviews

11/12/2018
Falkowski and Garner, teachers of journalism and broadcasting, respectively, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, offer gripping introductions to this compelling anthology of student writing. Falkowski writes an immediate account of the Feb. 2018 events; Garner underscores the duality of the contributors’ post-tragedy lives, describing the journalism and broadcasting students whose sense of security was shattered yet who were galvanized to become “on the outside, activists, and on the inside, journalists.” Reconciling those roles and advocating for gun legislation reform and school safety are recurring themes. The students also speak about their indignation at being accused of being publicity-seeking “crisis actors” for appearing in media interviews and participating in the March for Our Lives movement. Throughout, the students express appreciation for peers and faculty who exhibited courage during the shootings, and they stress the importance of journalistic integrity. An impressive roundup of eloquent, well-reasoned, and inspiring writing. Ages 14–up. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

2018-09-02

Ruminations from student journalists in the wake of the Feb. 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings.

Edited by two MSD teachers who themselves write of their experiences on that day, the short essays focus primarily on the students' ongoing emotional states and general observations about the decidedly mixed treatment they received in the tragedy's aftermath from the press, politicians, and over social media. These are interspersed with tributes to select individuals who performed "Extraordinary Acts" and also with photos that, being nearly all uncaptioned, provide more atmosphere than information. Young grass-roots activists will find no specific reform agenda here, though several contributors do offer savvy general advice. If some of the prose is less than stellar, there are plenty of mature, thoughtful insights to compensate: "We are navigating our way through our grief, which includes guilt," writes Carly Novell. "We can live and remember, but we can't live our lives stuck on February 14." Unlike David and Lauren Hogg's #NeverAgain (2018), this is less a coherent manifesto than a chorus of individual voices feeling pain, describing learning experiences, discovering the heady power of collective action—and expressing determination that, when it comes to real change, "it didn't happen after Columbine in 1999, but it will happen now." Debut author and editor Falkowski adds eloquent arguments for the importance of high school journalism programs and independent student-run school newspapers.

Scattershot but cogent and encouraging. (MSD media awards, contributor profiles) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews

"An arresting account of capable young people drawn together by a journalistic mission even as they negotiate their own grief, fear, and anger.... simultaneously raw and poised." —Bulletin, starred review

"Frank and sincere. . . . A book like this shouldn’t have to exist, and yet it does—and for that reason alone, it deserves a space in all libraries." —Booklist, starred review

"[E]ach piece is powerfully written and adds another necessary thread to a growing national dialogue." —SLJ 

"An impressive roundup of eloquent, well-reasoned, and inspiring writing." —PW

"Falkowski adds eloquent arguments for the importance of high school journalism programs and independent student-run school newspapers." —Kirkus

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