Inside the News: A Journey Through Journalism with Rigor, Passion, and Truth

Wrote By Francesco Ramagli, Professor of Italian Language and Literature

There are school experiences that leave a lasting mark. Not just because they teach something, but because they turn students into active participants, pushing them to challenge themselves and discover abilities they didn’t know they had. The journalism project carried out in recent weeks by the MYP5 students was exactly that: a journey into the world of information, blending study and creativity, technique and critical thinking, simulation and reality.

It all started in the classroom, but soon desks and notebooks gave way to editorial tables, cameras, microphones, green screens, and studio lights. The goal was ambitious: to produce a real news report, from concept to broadcast, covering all the intermediate steps. But the heart of the project wasn’t just about “making a video.” It was about understanding how information works, what its responsibilities are, what tools it uses, what risks it carries. And learning, step by step, how to tell the world’s stories.

From Idea to Broadcast: A Team Effort

The journey unfolded over several weeks and required constant commitment, flexibility, and initiative. After an initial phase of theoretical training—where students explored the fundamentals of journalism, from news structure to interview types, from writing techniques to on-camera presentation—they were divided into teams. Each group had a specific role, just like in a real newsroom: some researched sources, others wrote scripts, directed, filmed, edited, or presented.

Each team independently chose the topic of their report, but it had to meet clear criteria: relevance, social significance, and balanced reporting. Once the subject was selected, they dove into intense research: collecting data, analyzing articles, watching videos, consulting sources. The students learned to distinguish between verified facts and opinions, between what is documented and what is merely suggestive. They discovered that serious journalism is made of tough questions and complex answers—not slogans.

The Ethics of Storytelling

One of the most meaningful aspects of the project was the focus on journalism’s ethical dimension. It wasn’t just about learning how to craft a good interview or speak confidently on camera. It was about understanding why stories are told, how they can shape public opinion, and what risks come with biased or sensationalist narratives.

Discussions covered fake news, media manipulation, and the polarization of public debate—but also journalism’s social role: shedding light on hidden issues, giving voice to the voiceless, and building awareness. It became clear from the start that being a journalist means more than writing well—it means thinking deeply, choosing carefully, and taking responsibility for one’s words.

The Day We Went Live

The project’s climax came with a visit to the Sky television studios. Stepping into a professional environment, taking on roles with seriousness, and experiencing a real media production was unforgettable. Under the guidance of expert technicians, the students recorded their reports like true professionals. They practiced diction and posture, learned to face the camera, manage timing, and handle the unexpected.

The set was real, and so was the tension. But the energy was electric. Each group presented its work, received feedback, and reflected on their choices. In that moment, everyone understood what it means to work together toward a shared goal: the success of the final product depended on attention to every single detail.

A 360° Learning Experience

Beyond technical learning, the project fostered a wide range of transversal skills. Students learned how to plan, delegate tasks, and solve problems in real time. They developed active listening, mediation, and summarizing abilities. They learned how to give and receive feedback, to defend their ideas and place them at the service of a group.

In a world where information moves fast and superficiality lurks around every corner, experiencing the complexity of journalism firsthand was a crucial lesson—perhaps the most important one.

Ultimately, this wasn’t just a journalism lab. It was an invitation to look at the world with more attentive eyes, to distinguish noise from meaning, to become more aware citizens capable of interpreting reality. In a time when news is everywhere but understanding is rare, learning to tell stories with truth, rigor, and humanity is a revolutionary act. And today, our students know just how valuable that is.