10 Story Ideas for January, 2026
Dave Davis, director of the ASB Workshop, advised a high school newsmagazine for 34 years at Hillcrest High School in Springfield MO. He is now teaching part-time at Greenwood Laboratory School in Springfield, where he has started the school’s first-ever Broadcast Journalism class. He will post 10 story ideas on the ASB blog, September - May.
Too Much Football? In this football-crazed country, it seems crazy to suggest the NFL season is too long. In 2021 the league expanded to a 17-game regular season, and there are plans to make that 18 games in the near future if team owners get their way. More games, more revenue. BUT, the players are not on board just yet. More games also mean more risk of injury, more games at the end of the season that will have less meaning as teams are eliminate from the post-season, and also the fatigue factor. Football is a a grueling, physical sport. What do teens, and scholastic coaches think about the current 17-game season, and the possibility of expanding to 18 games soon? For a look at just how long a football season really lasts, check this article: https://www.tickpick.com/blog/how-long-is-the-nfl-season/
Behind the Scenes: One of the most entertaining and informational stories you can produce is one you shoot behind the scenes. For example, think about what it takes to get donuts made and ready for purchase by 5 or 6 a.m. rain, shine or whatever. Who is behind the scenes? What is the process? Did you know Americans eat between 25-30 million donuts every day? In addition, many donut shops are locally-owned, and that makes it easier to get permission to do the story. Consider this, or many other packages you could shoot behind the scenes of a process or event, where the people, or the process, is unseen.
Agree to Disagree: Since 2026 is the year of the “mid-terms,” there could be a fun yet thought-provoking story right in front of you. Find a couple of students and their parents to discuss how they love each other, but have totally different political views. Teens can often just vote/believe the way their parents taught them when it comes to politics, but there are always young people who are very independent, and veer away from mom or dad’s politicK views. Wouldn’t it be nice to discuss this without a lot of anger and bitterness? That is the goal—tell a story about some parents and kids who have opposing views but they avoid letting it harm their relationship.
Getting Ahead of the Game: How many college credits can you earn while attending high school? Believe it or not, some parents and teens are unaware of the various ways students can save a lot of money by taking courses for college credit now, before they ever leave high school. Talk to a counselor, students at your school who are taking advantage of dual enrollment or AP classes. Do some math and see just how much can be saved if you are willing to tackle the tough classes now?
Everybody Cut Loose: Does your school have a dance team? If so, do you realize how hard they work? They have a brief moment at the school assembly or at halftime of the game, but so much prep goes into those very public performances. Talk about a visual story, with nat sound, and characters who are truly invested…Here is a background piece: https://dancespirit.com/kinds-of-high-school-dance-teams/#gsc.tab=0
Teens Are Literally Thin-Skinned: There are skin care trends on TikTok that are influencing teens and tweens. In fact, many of them are created by teens and tweens. There are more than a few kids of elementary age practicing skin care regimens they learn online. For teenagers especially, there are health-related issues they likely do not consider, if they even are aware of them. Some are outlined in this article: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/teen/Pages/trendy-skin-care-for-tweens-and-teens-is-it-safe.aspx#:~:text=Why%20youthful%20skin%20doesn't,Long%2Dterm%20sensitization%20or%20allergies You can find some surprising eresults of a study of skin care videos posted on TikTok here: https://publications.aap.org/journal-blogs/blog/32348/Children-Using-Skin-Care-Regimens-That-They?searchresult=1&_gl=1*1rcjoxs*_ga*MjY0MDEwMzg4LjE3NjY2ODU0NTg.*_ga_FD9D3XZVQQ*czE3NjY2ODU0NTckbzEkZzAkdDE3NjY2ODU0NTckajYwJGwwJGgw?autologincheck=redirected
Video Game for ADHD? Yes, it’s true. A prescription video game called EndeavorRX is being used to boost attention skills. https://www.endeavorrx.com/about-endeavorrx/#:~:text=EndeavorRx%20is%20a%20digital%20therapeutic,address%20symptoms%20of%20the%20disorder There is a version called EndeavorOTC available for adults with ADHD. This topic offers a real chance to get some great information to your audience. Just remember to explain that this might not be for everyone.
Student Loan Dangers: The latest plan the federal government may be implementing has huge ramifications for those already in debt and defaulting on their student loans. It could lead to the feds garnishing wages to some extent to start getting some of the money back for those who have not repaid those loans. There is a lot for high school seniors to consider as they try to find a way to afford college next year. A story illuminating the risks, and how the loans can help make college possible for some, would be really timely in January. Here is an article illuminating some of this complex issue from the Institute for College Access and Success: https://ticas.org/affordability-2/2025-student-debt-survey-blog/#:~:text=Student%20loan%20default%20comes%20with,who%20can%20least%20afford%20it
It Ain’t Dead Yet: In 2010 cursive handwriting was cut from the Common Core Standards, and many schools stopped teaching cursive in favor of keyboarding classes. Here’s a surprising update: cursive writing is making a comeback lately. Now 25 states require schools to teach it. This would be a fun, challenging story to tell visually. Lots of tight shots could bring it to life. Do some research and see if cursive is being taught in your district. Why do your district leaders feel it is important, or maybe NOT so important these days? Get reaction from students, teachers, and especially parents who were all taught cursive when they were in school.
I’m Talking Here: There are a lot of schools that have thriving, successful speech and debate programs. They travel as much as any sports team, and their competitive seasons often last almost the entire school year. Have you covered your speech students, who put in hours and hours preparing to represent your school in challenging weekend tournaments? The nat sound and visuals are there, and so are some great interviews with kids who have no problem speaking coherently.
