TrueKids1 launches student-led broadcast
Set to release their third broadcast Monday (April 1), TK1 News, a student-led news broadcast under the TrueKids1 umbrella, is on a mission to foster transparent dialogue in the school district, building media literacy, production and creativity skills along the way.
Led by Taos High School students involved with TrueKids1 — a media production and education nonprofit geared toward Taos youth — TK1 News reports weekly on stories unfolding within Taos High School and the broader school district community.
Striking a balance between informative and entertaining, the 10-minute videos include in-studio interviews, sports and weather updates, and longer produced segments that feature Taos High programs.
In their first two productions to date, TK1 News has reported on a wide range of topics: The district’s search for a new superintendent; the high school’s drama club and sustainable agriculture programs; the Flex Fridays program; a Taos High fight gone viral on X; and the travel club’s trip to Japan. Acting weatherman Carlos Miller predicted a tough summer for fruit following March’s warm-spellturned-snowstorm. Investigator Luna Bonny questioned the efficacy of an automatic weapons detector at the school entrance.
Ultimately, TK1 News aims to create a single streamlined platform for sharing information and opinions within the school district.
TK1 News Anchor Kalila Ko and TrueKids1 Youth Council President Carlos Miller both noted the lack of clear lines of communication within schools. Not all students are updated on important information, they say, like standardized tests. Not all staff and faculty have the opportunity to explain to students decisions being made at the administrative level, “which isn’t anyone’s fault,” Ko said.
There just isn’t a clear chain of command for school dialogue, Miller said. With so much information spread by word-ofmouth, he feels it’s important to have a single platform that can be, “A tool of accountability ... to ask the tough questions and, in a fantasy world, get some answers.”
To this end, Ko and Miller hope to invite more school leaders — principals, administrators, teachers, the incoming superintendent — onto the broadcast.
“Those kinds of people should be readily accessible,” Miller said.
TrueKids1 Executive Director Sandy Campbell expands that invitation further to people working in nonprofits, social services and recreation and parents of students.
“This is a call to those in the community who work with teenagers: Come share what you have to say,” Campbell said.
Ultimately, TK1 News aims to be a force for good, building constructive conversations around difficult topics, rather than pointing fingers. As school systems continue to recover from the disruption of the pandemic, Campbell feels it’s crucial to rally around programs that are functioning and have students engaged and enthusiastic.
He feels the excitement among his youth-interns surrounding TK1 News speaks for itself. Students are taking charge and ownership of the production by finding stories, writing scripts and editing videos.
The initial response to the first three broadcasts has been positive, Campbell said, particularly from Taos High teachers. Many teachers have set aside class time to air the broadcast — uploaded on TrueKids1’s YouTube and Instagram pages — for their class. Students viewing the broadcasts seem engaged with news produced by their own friends and peers.
Ko recalled feeling flustered the day after their first broadcast when teachers and students she’d never talked to congratulated her in the school hallways. She hopes to pursue media production and journalism beyond high school, and feels TrueKids1 has equipped her with valuable skills in filming and editing.
As students take charge of their emerging news broadcast, Campbell finds his role is mostly hands-off, stepping in primarily to moderate students. During their brainstorm sessions, he pushes students to think critically about both consuming and producing news, helping them develop core media literacy skills around objectivity and subjectivity.
“What is a fact, and what is an opinion? We can have opinions on facts, but those are different things. Having those conversations with kids is fascinating,” Campbell said.
Ultimately, Campbell hopes TK1 News will build on the core mission of TrueKids1: Using
media and technology forces for good.
“These kids are absolutely and utterly shaped by media they consume ... We’ve got to get more content online that has actual, nutritional
value,” Campbell said. “If along the way we push and deepen some critical thinking abilities, we push and deepen some media literacy skills, that’s all good stuff. That’s precious, actually.”
TK1 News can be found on the TrueKids1 Instagram (@ truekids1) and YouTube (@truekids-1). Visit truekids1.org for more information.