The next generation of journalists
Photo by KIM GRIGG Fifth-grade students from Valley View Elementary School recently visited the Bonners Ferry Herald and had a chance to interview Editor Mandi Bateman and write their own articles.
Courtesy photo Valley View teacher Kim Grigg with some of her students who put out their own school newspaper.
BONNERS FERRY — A small group of dedicated fifth grade students at Valley View Elementary School are producing their own newspaper under the guidance of their teacher, Kim Grigg.
Grigg, who has been teaching for 20 years, chose to take on this elective class because she feels that writing and interviewing skills are important.
“I thought it would be fun,” said Grigg.
As part of their learning experience, the students visited the Bonners Ferry Herald on Nov. 15 where they learned about interviewing skills. They then had a chance to practice by interviewing Bonners Ferry Herald Editor Mandi Bateman.
The idea behind the interview was they could write their own article. They learned about what kind of questions to ask, the importance of spelling names correctly, and how to use quotes. Although they were initially given one question each, the students were quickly raising their hands and asking many questions.
These are two of the articles that were written:
n Mandi Bateman is an editor at the Bonners Ferry Herald office. She is 45 years old and has worked at the Herald office for one and a half years. She has lived in Bonners Ferry for seven years and gets to expand her job by visiting new places and even riding with police in their vehicles. She states, “I love my job here at the Herald because I get to be with people and meet fascinating new friends.’’
She thinks it takes about seven days to write a full length paper and takes five to 10 hours to write one article. She is so committed that she has even gone out in the middle of the night or at two in the morning to write articles.
She said the most exciting part of her job was when she rode with the sheriff in their boat on the river. She has written an astonishing amount of 2,720 articles since she has been employed.
— By Kassidy Durette, age 10
n I got the pleasure of interviewing Mandi Bateman. We went to the Bonners Ferry Herald office as a field trip.
Mandi is the editor of the newspaper. She covers everything in Boundary County, from artists to fires to businesses. Mandi has worked at the newspaper office for one and a half years. She has written about 2,720 articles in the time she has been employed. Mandi has lived here for seven years, she is 45 years old. She publishes every Thursday.
“I love my job here at the Herald because I get to be with people and meet fascinating friends,’’ she said.
— By James Morgen, age 10
Editor’s note: The amount of articles written was calculated incorrectly, and is actually around 300.