10 Story Ideas for April, 2026
Dave Davis, director of the ASB Workshop, advised a high school newsmagazine for 34 years at Hillcrest HS, and is now in his first year of creating a new broadcast program at Greenwood Laboratory School. He will post the “pitch meeting” the first of each month, September - May.
Gas Relief: Teenagers often have to pay to gas up their cars, and that is becoming a bigger challenge as prices climb during the war with Iran. This is a great national topic to localize, and the visuals are pretty easy to get, as is some nice nat sound. It’s also pretty easy to do some research and see what prices are in various parts of the country. It is hitting some areas harder than others.
Flag on the Play: The fastest growing high school sport in the U.S. is Girls Flag Football. If it is coming (or has come) to your area, see what it’s all about. Why is it so popular, and is it impacting participation in other more established sports? It is already sanctioned in 14 states, and will be in many more soon. Here is more info about sports participation, including the emergence of girls flag football: https://www.si.com/high-school/national/high-school-sports-participation-hits-all-time-high-in-2024-25-fueled-by-growth-in-girls-programs-01k2z4rs5sgj
Catching Up: A really fun, fairly easy-to-produce feature is the “Where are they now?” piece where you locate a former student, teacher, athlete, or even an administrator and reveal what they are up to now. You can easily give it context with photos from old yearbooks, or moments from your own video archives. This is a great project for first-year broadcast students.
The Diploma Difference, Part One: What is the value of a high school diploma in 2026? Here are some things to consider: A high school diploma opens up many more job opportunities, jobs with heath benefits, which leads to longer lives. It means a chance to get into trade schools, or community colleges. A HS diploma actually means hundreds of thousands of dollars more in income over the course of a lifetime—and those without a diploma are much more likely to end up in poverty. This is all information a guidance counselor can give you.
The Diploma Difference, Part Two: Is it getting too easy to get a diploma? Have schools lowered standards in order to get more students to walk at commencement? The national graduation rate a couple of years ago was over 86 percent. Here is a place to find what it was in your state: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/see-high-school-graduation-rates-by-state Reporters should ask about lowering standards, but also share the new ways students can get credits toward graduation that were not available even five years ago.
New Math on the Diamond: We are living in the Statcast era in Major League Baseball. Advanced metrics are guiding managers and coaches and organizations daily. What about high school baseball teams, coaches, and players? Are things like “launch angle,” swing path,” and “exit velocity” a part of the lingo these days? A story about which of the metrics your coaches are using, or ignoring, and why, provides a fresh angle on a spring sport.
Waste Not Want Not: A little investigation about what your school does regarding its waste management could be informative and maybe eye-opening. Where does all that trash go? Recycling happens, right? Follow the paper trail. Show us what we always assume is taking place with our trash. Here is some background (and suggestions) you might want to know about as you dig in: https://www.cspi.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/2023%20School%20Food%20Waste%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
Sporty Inquisition: With March Madness ending on April 6 with the national championship game, a roving reporter could pose the question, “Which sport has the best finish?” This could include the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, March Madness, College Football National Championship, etc. The question can also reveal which sports teens care about the most. You might clarify you are asking about yearly events, not the Olympics or the World Cup.
The Sedentary Teen: Sedentary behavior is defined as spending three or more hours per day watching TV, watching an app, playing computer games, or using the Internet. This fits most teenagers, or a large percentage of them. The problem is, a sedentary lifestyle puts you at risk for physical problems (obesity, high blood pressure, cardio problems, weakened muscles and bones) as well as depression, low self-esteem, and poor academic performance. Learn more here as you investigate this topic: https://medlineplus.gov/healthrisksofaninactivelifestyle.html
Nailed It: Guess what more and more teens are doing? They are getting their nails done, and it’s getting expensive. Many teens are investing heavily in these services, with 43% of young consumers getting manicures, often at costs between $25 and $50 dollars a month. Is it worth it? Ask. And you might see if there are males in your school who get their nails done. Why the uptick in teens and fancy nails? Influencers on TikTok, of course. See if you can find clips.