Creative Courses: Photojournalism

Middle School Photojournalism: Leadership, Creativity, and Real-World Impact

Creative Courses - By Ms. Mila Vasconcelos

The Student Phoenix S., ready to start the coverage of The International Folk Festival, in Fayetteville - NC (USA)

Middle school students are naturally curious and eager to explore their world, and one of the best ways to channel that energy is through photojournalism. During my time teaching in the USA, I had the privilege of leading a Creative Elective Course on Photojournalism, where students shared their artistic and technical skills, and also engaged deeply with their school and local community.

This course was about empowering students to tell stories, take on leadership roles, and develop real-world skills. Over the semester, they became photographers, reporters, editors, directors, and researchers, collaborating to document events, celebrate achievements, and uncover stories that mattered to their peers and community.

Real-World Learning: Guest Speakers and Community Engagement

To give students an authentic experience, we invited a photojournalist from our local newspaper to speak about the profession, sharing tips and personal stories. This visit inspired students, showing them how photography and storytelling can create change and build connections.

The photojournalist Andrew Craft (@acraftphoto) , the reporter Taylor Shook, and the editor Beth Hutson from The Fayetteville Observer speaking to our students, sharing precious information about Photography and Photojournalism

The class also participated in community service projects and collaborated with small businesses, capturing their stories and events. This exposure gave students hands-on opportunities to apply their skills while learning about their local environment.

Students covering and helping the Fayetteville Organic Fair, learning about sustainable options for self-care and health

Semester-Long Teams and Roles

Throughout the semester, students worked in dedicated teams, each focusing on a specific area of coverage. Within these teams, students took on specialized roles—photographer, reporter, editor, director, and researcher—developing expertise while collaborating with their peers.

Here’s how the teams were organized:

1. Green Team: School Arts

   • Covered school art projects, performances, and exhibitions.

   • Captured the creative efforts of their peers in music, visual arts, and drama.

2. White Team: World News

   • Explored and reported on global events with relevance to students’ lives.

   • Researched international stories and presented them in ways that connected with their local audience.

3. Purple Team: Local News

   • Focused on happenings in Fayetteville and surrounding areas.

   • Highlighted community events, small businesses, and neighborhood stories.

4. Red Team: School Sports

   • Provided in-depth coverage of school sports events, from games to team practices.

   • Captured dynamic action shots and conducted post-game interviews with players and coaches.

5. Blue Team: School Clubs

   • Documented the activities and achievements of school clubs.

   • Helped promote the diversity of student-led initiatives within the school.

6. Orange Team: School Personalities

   • Conducted interviews and profiles of school personalities—teachers, administrators, and standout students.

   • Celebrated the unique contributions of individuals to the school community.

Each team played a crucial role in telling the story of the school, building skills in collaboration, time management, and storytelling.

The Final Project: Covering the International Folk Festival

The International Folk Festival of Fayetteville became the culminating event of the semester. Each team applied their skills to document and report on different aspects of the festival, capturing the vibrancy and diversity of this cultural celebration.

Their work at the festival—photographs, interviews, and detailed event coverage—was not only showcased during the festival but also became an integral part of their final portfolios. These portfolios demonstrated their ability to work as part of a professional team, manage responsibilities, and produce high-quality, impactful content.

Building Skills and Confidence

Throughout the semester, students learned not only the technical aspects of photojournalism—like framing, lighting, and editing—but also how to conduct interviews, write compelling captions, and curate stories. By rotating through different roles, they developed a range of skills, from critical thinking and research to teamwork and communication.

Taking on leadership roles within their teams, students were responsible for planning their coverage, meeting deadlines, and making editorial decisions. This gave them a real-world sense of responsibility, preparing them for future academic and professional challenges.

The Final Outcome: A Professional Portfolio

By the end of the course, each student had built an impressive portfolio of work, showcasing their ability to document events, tell stories, and create impactful visuals. Their contributions to the International Folk Festival reflected their growth as creative professionals, storytellers, and collaborators.

The students excelled in every assignment, immersing themselves in meaningful connections with both the school and local community. Their work showcased their talent, and also strengthened the bond between our classroom and the world around us. I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication, creativity, and growth!

Why This Matters

Creative courses like Photojournalism can teach technical skills, and help students to foster critical thinking, creativity, and leadership. They walked away from this course not only as better photographers and writers but also as empowered storytellers, ready to take on new challenges.

The International Folk Festival project exemplified how arts and academics can come together to create authentic learning experiences. It highlighted the value of collaboration, cultural awareness, and community engagement—key skills that international schools strive to nurture in their students.

This class remains one of my proudest teaching experiences, and I look forward to bringing the same energy and innovation to future creative courses!

Ms. Mila Vasconcelos