Kent State senior Kristy O'Hara hopes to write for a magazine after she graduates from college, but for now, through JMC's NewsOhio program, she's getting experience in the broadcasting aspect of journalism, too.

" I've learned a lot more [working with NewsOhio] than I would have if I would have just done print media," O'Hara, who worked for the Daily Kent Stater for five semesters, said. "I think it just makes me more marketable and versatile to have that experience."

O'Hara is part of a JMC program designed to get high school students interested in current events.

Here's how it works:

On Monday afternoons, the eight members of the NewsOhio staff tape the main show in the Hirsch Lab of the Music and Speech Building.

Correspondent Jonathan Harvat relaxes on a break from taping a NewsOhio show.

This portion of the program includes discussion and questions pertaining to issues in the news that might particularly interest high school students.

The next morning, a group of NewsOhio students, carrying mics and video cameras, visits an Ohio high school and interviews students about their feelings on the issues discussed in the studio on Monday.

The completed product is available for the public to see on Thursdays at 2 p.m. on PBS. The program includes clips from television news stories, high school students' reactions to them, and discussions and questions posed by the anchors.

O'Hara's job is to ask questions about students’ feelings on controversial issues in the news.

The questions are designed to help students to think about not only the news, but democracy in general, Evonne Whitmore, NewsOhio adviser, said.

Whitmore said that when the program began two years ago, the low scores high school students were getting on their government exams made it clear that students weren't adequately aware of the world around them.

"Steve Mitchell from channel 45 came up with the idea for this news program, hoping it would make students more aware of democracy," Whitmore said. "The program was intended to get young people to think about it in school."

Justin Kier is one of the students who goes to the high schools and gets students to do just that.

"I really love the concept of the show," Kier said.

"It's all about getting the kids involved in their community, and having them keep up with the news.

"I have, in my opinion, themost rewarding segment of the show because I get to interact with the students."

How much interest do high school students have in the program? How well do they respond to NewsOhio's efforts? Click here to find out.

Check out the NewsOhio website

Story: Angelique McKowan
Photos: Marie Ho
Design: Mandy Jenkins