Seven talented students from West Bundaberg Primary School recently had a rare opportunity to learn how to publish a newspaper, at CQU Bundaberg.

At the first ever CQU Media Workshop for primary-age students, the school’s news team members fulfilled a dream to produce their own newspaper (called The Hideout) for distribution within their school and nearby community.

Bundaberg Acting Head of Campus, Dr Helen Huntly said CQU was pleased to be able to provide resources for a project of this type during the summer term when the Multi-Media Laboratory was not in high demand.

“CQU already has strong partnerships with local primary schools through its Bachelor of Learning Management practice teaching program, but we see this as an extension of that partnership where younger students are able to familiarise themselves with the university, while learning new skills,” Dr Huntly said.

She said West Bundaberg Primary was one of several Bundaberg schools that had provided classroom teaching experience for CQU students and the Media Workshop was an excellent opportunity to further the relationship.

Workshop tutor and former newspaper editor Carole Colville, who is teaching reporting, newspaper layout and production skills, says these are all challenging ways to involve young minds in learning.

“A good newspaper should be fully engaged with its community of readers so this exercise provides an almost endless supply of new learning challenges for students to get their teeth into,” she said.

Photo (above): A planning session for members of the West Bundaberg Primary School News Team. (From l.to r.) Editor, James Humphries, Sports Reporter, Leisa Johnston, Reporter, Chloe Swanson, Tutor, Carole Colville, Photogapher, Zac Adams (standing), Graphic Artist, Aiden Price, Sub-Editor, Kirsten Gaffel and Layout Artist, Tim Price.

Photo (left): Sports Reporter, Leisa Johnston writes her story for back-page at the Bundaberg Campus MultiMedia Laboratory. Photo taken by news team photographer, Zac Adams.