Pin Oak Press is the student news site for Pin Oak Middle School, showcasing the work of students enrolled in the school’s journalism class.

Intro to Journalism | Course Description

This foundational course introduces middle school students to the exciting world of journalism and media production. Students develop essential reporting and writing skills while learning the building blocks of effective storytelling across multiple platforms.

Students begin by mastering the fundamentals of journalistic writing, exploring the differences between news, features, opinion pieces, and reviews. They learn to craft compelling headlines, write engaging leads, and structure articles that inform and captivate readers. Through guided practice, students develop interview techniques, source verification skills, and basic research methods that lead to accurate, credible reporting.

The course incorporates hands-on multimedia experience as students create simple video projects and photo essays. They learn the basics of composition, lighting, and editing while producing short news segments and visual stories. These introductory projects establish the technical and creative foundation needed for more complex productions in advanced journalism. Students are introduced to journalism ethics, press freedom concepts, and the role of media in society through case studies and discussions. They develop critical media literacy skills by analyzing various news sources and identifying reliable information.

Throughout the course, students collaborate in small teams to produce content for classroom publications and the school’s student news website, pinoakpress.com. This practical experience helps students develop communication skills, build confidence, and understand the responsibility that comes with sharing information with an audience. This course prepares students for the high school credit journalism course while fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and clear communication—skills that benefit students across all academic disciplines.

Advanced Journalism (High School Credit) | Course Description

Building on the foundation of Intro to Journalism, this high school credit course deepens students’ skills in reporting, writing, and multimedia storytelling. Students write across various formats including news, features, editorials, and reviews. Throughout the process, they conduct interviews, verify sources, and incorporate research. These journalistic practices help students develop polished, publishable articles. They refine their visual storytelling by taking on complex video production work that involves creating multi-segment news broadcasts through scripting, filming, interviewing, and editing. These projects demand deeper reporting and often incorporate investigative journalism, giving students the opportunity to tell more ambitious, impactful stories. Students explore the history of American journalism, examine press law and ethics, and analyze how emerging technologies are reshaping media consumption. This course builds communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills by placing students in active reporting roles that serve the school community. Published work appears on our student news website, pinoakpress.com, providing students a real-world platform to share their journalism.

Prerequisites

• Successful completion of Intro to Journalism.
• “Meets” or “Masters” performance level on English STAAR assessment.
• Submission of a writing sample responding to a provided prompt (must score at least “Proficient” on the rubric).
• Letter of recommendation from current teacher highlighting student’s writing ability, work ethic, and ability to meet deadlines.