Image Credit: Ask Ideas

I read several advice columns, on almost a daily basis:

• Dear Abby
• Do Just One Thing
• Miss Manners
• Sense & Sensitivity

I don’t always agree, but several letters have made me think about certain things in my own life, such as dealing with certain friendships, how to consider money matters, and how to help the environment in different ways.

Last Monday, I stumbled upon an intriguing headline:

• “Students Turns the Tables on a Journalist”

I don’t normally read “Parents Talk Back,” but I felt like I needed to read this one.

And, I was right.

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Scenario: The columnist is approached by her daughter. Daughter asks mother to come talk to her middle school classes before starting a unit on investigative journalism.

Mother agrees, and creates a lesson plan with the teacher. Her ideas: Discuss the First Amendment, explore how the free press works, the different types of news sources, and examples of investigations.

She taught this lesson six times, to groups of 40 students. That’s 240 students! Armed with candy, she encouraged the students to answer and ask questions.

She later received over 100 notes from the students, thanking her for the enlightening discussion.

Here’s some of the responses:

• “I learned a lot of new things about how to gather information on public files.”
• “I’m taking journalism in high school, and I wasn’t that excited about it, but now i am! Can’t wait for that class.”
• “Who knows — you may have possibly inspired a future journalist.”
• “It gave me new insight on the steps reporters take to write a story and how they’re viewed by the public. My favorite part was when you explained the impact of journalism on real world issues.”
• “My favorite thing you said was that reporters helped bring bad things to light.”
• “My favorite thing you said was that investigative journalists don’t do it for the money, they do it for the truth.”
• “My favorite thing you said was you’ve been a journalist for 20 years, and that’s a record to me, because most people quit because people say mean things.”

I found myself re-reading this column a few times over the last week. It’s awesome that one woman made such an impact on 240 students, in one day!

Reading this column has inspired me to look into opportunities of sharing my varied knowledge on topics such as reading, writing, journalism, mass media, blogging, donating blood/blood drives, and maybe even the world of healthcare.

I’m not sure where this will lead me, but I’m excited!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂