Article Computers Technology

From blogging to podcasting to creating online videos
4
youth are leading the way
using new media and communication tools to share breaking news
event coverage and educational information with their community.

For example
the 4-H News technology club in Jefferson County
Wash.
provides on-the-spot reports through video clips and podcasts posted to their 4-H Network News Web site. Club members have covered a fire in an historic hotel and a Red Cross disaster training exercise and conducted interviews with local business leaders.

The youth are hands-on in every step of putting together the one-to-two-minute news segments. "We get ideas about what we'll do and who we'll interview
then we take the camera
tape footage
put it on the computers and edit it
15-year-old Sophie Gilbert said.

Gilbert first created a video about a school reunion but quickly saw the educational value for her community. She has produced segments about avoiding drugs and alcohol and a beach restoration project.
There is a need for us to talk about some of the important things going on in our county and in the world
she said.

The club came together as a collaboration among the local 4-H club, the Washington State University Extension office and the local newspaper. Jack Olmsted, 4-H leader for the club, Pamela Roberts, 4-H coordinator for the Jefferson County 4-H office, and the newspaper's publisher work closely with the youth.


Online media can be a priceless resource to capture not only the value of the 4-H experience
but also for our community
country and the world
said Olmsted.
The youth are getting the process down and planning segments while making them enjoyable but also informative."

The 4-H reporters publish their stories to an international audience using tools that are readily available in homes and offices-a video camera
computer linked to the Internet and telephone. "It is important to show the world that this can be done and it's easy for anyone to do
said 13-year-old Daniel Bryant.

Club members see themselves as a resource to others who want to start using online media. They also improve their public speaking skills and build self-esteem as they teach adults how to create and post news segments.

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.