Even the Journalists Were Young
By Suzanne Freeman

	Rachel Moses (left) and Andrea Miranda (middle) of Clarkstown High School in New City, New York, set up their camera for an interview. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman) Margarita Zhitnikova (left) and Justine Ellis (right) interview U.S. Secretary of Health Tommy Thompson at the UN Special Session on Children. (Photo: Courtesy Children's PressLine)

A historic occasion deserved historic coverage, as perhaps the largest group ever of young journalists converged on the United Nations in May to cover the UN Special Session on Children. The group included kids from Children's Express, Great Britain; Children's PressLine, New York; a television crew from a high school in upstate New York; and the young radio team from Scholastic News.

Seen at almost every event were the red shirts of the Children's Express and the bright yellow T-shirts of Children's PressLine (the former Children's Express, New York). Gavin Mather, 12, of Newcastle, England, and Jasmine Steward, 15, of Sheffield, England, worked nearly around the clock, taping comments from the hundreds of young delegates. Both have been very active over the past few years as young journalists.

"I've done some broadcasts on teacher shortages in England," Jasmine said. "I came to America for the BBC to do a live show."

Although both love their work with Children's Express, neither has plans to pursue journalism as a career.

"I want to be a policeman," Gavin says. "I want to find out what the journalists think about cops. I want both sides of the story."

Jasmine is thinking of going into law.

Lugging even bigger equipment was a group of high school students from Clarkstown High School North in New City, New York. Rachel Moses, 15, said the group was working on a documentary for CNN.

"We want everyone's views on the UN Special Session," she said, as she grabbed another delegate for an interview. Rachel asked the questions, while Andrea Miranda, 15, ran the camera.

Teacher David Kaminiski brought a crew of eight students from Clarkstown High as part of a class project. The students are members of this TV production class.

"We make movies, create the scripts, edit film, everything," Kaminiski said. "We are launching our news program with this session."

The group, along with about 30 other young journalists covering the session, had to wait in line to get credentials for admission to the UN building. Each was photographed and had to wear an ID card while at the UN. They were allowed access to the UN press facilities and were called on for questions at press conferences, probably more often than the regular media.

If officials were hoping for softball questions from the young journalists, they were in for a surprise. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson certainly found out when he agreed to an interview with the Children's PressLine reporters Justine Ellis and Margarita Zhitnikova, both 13, and residents of New York. They wanted to know why the U.S. had not signed the children's rights document.

"I would say that the United States is leading the efforts in so many areas to improve the quality of health for children," Thompson answered. "Some people sign documents. We're actually doing the work."

The relentless crew pushed on.

"We were told by a Polish delegate that the issues of AIDS and education were already decided," asked Justine and Margarita. "So what was the point in having the young people present for these topics in the General Assembly?"

"He's absolutely wrong," Thompson replied. "I'm on the global fund and we are raising funds, and Poland has hardly contributed any money, if any, to the global fund. We've contributed $500 million. People can talk, we DO in the United States. So you should be very proud of your government and what we are doing in these areas."

Just as the U.S. should be proud of the work of its young journalists.

"These kids are really excited," Kaminiski said of his journalism class. "They are really aggressive about getting out there and getting their interviews."

To follow their coverage, click on the following links:

Children's Express, where Gavin writes a daily journal of his adventures covering the UN special session.

Children's PressLine, which writes columns for the New York Post Online.