Kalani Chen-Hayes of Plainsboro was selected to be a reporter for IndyKids, an independent newspaper for students in grades four to eight. A fifth grade student at Princeton Friends School, he applied to the program in September and participated in fall training workshops covering reporting, editing, and photojournalism skills. Chen-Hayes, 9, reads and speaks Mandarin Chinese, and enjoys performing in the school musicals. He enjoys writing and his favorite subjects in school are science, math, and Spanish.
“My first assignment was to interview a researcher studying how middle school kids learn,” he says. “In the Kid Reporter Workshops, I learned how to be a good reporter. My favorite part was getting to choose any topic to write about for my second article — the red wolf.”
For the November-December issue, Chen-Hayes wrote a science brief on endangered red wolves, co-wrote on how middle school students learn, and collaborated on a photojournalism story interviewing elementary students about their views on NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s large soda sales ban. For the January-February issue, Chen-Hayes co-interviewed a climate scientist at Columbia University for an upcoming story about Hurricane Sandy.
IndyKids was formed in June, 2005, by a group of independent journalists, students, parents, teachers, and activists. They recognized the need for current events news to be presented in a way that would interest and engage young kids. The publication produces 10,000 copies of every issue and reaches kids in 36 states across the nation through classroom and individual subscriptions.
Submissions may be sent to info@indykids.org at any time. Include your name, age, E-mail address, phone number, and mailing address. Visit www.indykids.net.
