NBTB Online

Editor’s note: Please watch this space for updates on our Summer 2021 program.

With NBTB Online, students have new opportunities to learn both on campus and at home.

Coronavirus concerns prompted a pivot to all-online instruction for summer 2020, which resulted in a June 29-July 10 program that was among our most productive ever, with magazine, broadcast and podcast options plus republication of student work by Chalkbeat, a leading educational news organization.

We followed up with NBTB Now, a special fall 2020 term from Oct. 12 to Dec. 18 with stories focused on politics, social justice and youth activism during the presidential election.

Given the extent of the continuing COVID-19 crisis around the world, like all educators we want to continue to make sure that our staff and students remain safe. Fortunately, as a digital media program, we’ve always collaborated online, constantly updating with the latest digital tools. Using Zoom, Skype, Google Tools, WhatsApp, Slack, the entire Adobe suite and group text apps are business as usual. Digital literacy, along with flexibility and resilience, are qualities we like to think are core for NBTB students.

Whether online or on campus, we emphasize a sense of adventure in the work, a desire to innovate, the ability to accept and even embrace failure if it means you’re pushing yourself, and a deep commitment to student journalism as a way to raise the voice of a new generation.

A typical day at NBTB Online includes:

8 a.m. PT to noon PT:

• Week 1: Four 45-minute classes in 1) news reporting and writing, 2) digital media stories, 3) broadcast and video, and 4) photojournalism. All sessions will be recorded and shared on the day they take place.
• Week 2: Four 45-minute classes in 1) climate science journalism, 2) political reporting and media literacy, 3) guest speakers/working journalists for each news team (global website, magazine, broadcast) and 4) staff leadership training.

Lunch break

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT: Afternoon reporting time and drop-in story coaching for students with their team leaders, including intensive writing, editing and revision of stories and products for publication. Students overseas will be partnered with a team leader for remote one-on-one coaching. Students who have questions about a recorded class can get extra help.

4 p.m.-5 p.m.: Guest speaker presentations and press conference. Submit questions in advance; listen live or on demand.

5:30 p.m – 6 p.m.: Editorial meeting for news teams (global website, magazine or broadcast. Students in Asia will be able to participate in real time; other students will virtually update their team leaders and story partners.