Through the efforts of Kent State students, the NewsOhio program helps high school students relate to local and national issues in the news.

But Candace Bowen, who also works on the program, said it took a while for students to take advantage of the Web site's interactive components.

"The program is very cool," Bowen said. "But at first students weren't logging in and sending us their views. Now that's beginning to happen all the time."

Prof. Evonne Whitmore, NewsOhio adviser, said high school students do respond well when the crew visits them at their schools.

" It's a young crew, so high school students repond," Whitmore said. "But we're still evaluating the impact of NewsOhio. We're waiting for more feedback from the teachers."

The NewsOhio team isn't able to find out how many people actually tune in to PBS on Thursdays to watch the show, because the channel's viewership isn't monitored.

But the crew does know their program has an impact on more than just high school students.

Senior broadcast major Kristen Stetar sometimes visits elementary and middle schools on Friday mornings to talk to students about current events.

"The last time I went, I visited first-graders," Stetar said. "They were really responsive. They were really anxious to show what they'd learned."

Stetar said she could relate to the students' enthusiasm.

" When I was little, I used to tape little newscasts and reports about my family," Stetar said. "I've always been a news dork."

Whitmore said the NewsOhio team hopes Kent State JMC students and high school students will continue to benefit from this program, which is funded through a state grant called the Service Learning Grant.

However, whether that will happen will be decided in January, when the JMC school applies for a new grant to continue the program.

NewsOhio focuses on the future

Check out the NewsOhio website

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