10 Story Ideas for May, 2025
Dave Davis, director of the ASB Workshop, advised a high school newsmagazine for 34 years. He will post ten story ideas on the first day of each month, September - May.
Senior Wisdom: Time to let seniors provide some words of wisdom as they depart. Ask them about lessons learned, any regrets, and favorite memories of high school. Then go a little deeper and ask what fears or concerns they have about the future.
Blockbusters: Do some digging, find out about summer movies, which are often aimed at teens. Which films are students looking forward to in the summer of 2025? Here is a look at the new releases: https://apnews.com/article/summer-movie-calendar-2025-2d86914fb9442fb0149f7cc13616f1a8
Farewells: There are usually teachers or admins moving on to different jobs, and especially for anyone who has been at your school for a long time, a fond farewell interview would be a nice tribute. The challenge? If you do it for one, you have to mention them all. But you can certainly justify giving someone who had a long tenure at your school the spotlight.
On the Road Again (and again): Summer is a busy time for sports, and so many high school athletes join travel teams. The thing about travel teams—they are often expensive, and put a huge burden on parents to provide transportation, lodging, etc. for all those out-of-town tourneys. Hone in on one family that supports an athlete and see how they make it work, and why the sacrifices are worth it.
The Review: The school year is winding down. What were the highlights, the lowlights, the things the 2024-25 year will be remembered for in your community? Yearbooks mark the school year in their own special way, so why not a look back via video?
Play Ball: You can get a jump on summer by covering the minor league baseball team near you. Here is a map you can search: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:MiLB_Teams_Map Minor league teams often will provide you with access major league clubs will not allow. So think about a great angle before you call and ask for permission. Let them know what you are after—they can even set up interviews with players, coaches, mascots, etc.
Safety in the Sun: Teens love getting outdoors in the summer months. But there are plenty of ways they can protect their skin while enjoying that trip to the beach or the lake. https://www.glamour.com/gallery/skin-care-for-teens A local dermatologist can provide the expert voice on this one. If you can not book one, hit up your school nurse.
Celebrating Jane: 2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, and there are celebrations planned: https://janeaustens.house/visit/jane-austen-250/ If students have studied her novels, or watched films based on them, they might enjoy talking about why they are big fans of Ms. Austen. Note: You should check with your faculty members because there will definitely be Austen fans among the staff.
Start Your Engines: If you have a stock car track near you, check out some of the younger drivers racing for the checkered flag. They can be as young as 16 or 17. It is a sport full of thrills, risks, great sound and visuals.
Speaking of Cars: Teenagers often had to save up and pay for their first car—but lately that has started to shift, as 41% of parents are buying their teen’s first car. Have some fun with this one. It is easy to find kids who had to buy their first set of wheels, but you can also find teachers who can recall how they got their first car, what they remember about it. Your first car will always be a special memory.
