Student News Reporter Contest

The 2018 State Championship marked the inaugural Mock Trial Student News Reporter Contest.

The Student News Reporter Contest is offered at both the regional and state level. The contest was created to help students practice news reporting skills at the local level. The contest is a hands-on experience in a courtroom. Additionally, the contest allows student journalists to learn about courtroom procedures and the trial process. At the State Championship, students are mentored by news reporters and judges.

Any high school student who wants to participate in the contest can, regardless of whether there is a mock trial team at the contestant’s home school. If a student does not have a mock trial team, they contact the Nebraska State Bar Foundation for a list of area mock trial teams in order to watch a regional trial.

The top 6 at large students will continue onto the state championship. The top 6 students with a mock trial team with continue onto state.

The Student News Reporter Contest adds another realistic component to the Mock Trial competition. It was developed through a collaboration of the Bench Media Committee of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation; Doris Huffman, Executive Director of the Foundation; and Jim Timm, President and Executive Director of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

The Contest
Regional Mock Trial

  • All students sign up for Mock Trial Student News Contest with the Nebraska State Bar Foundation via a google form here.
  • Student writers are encouraged to read the mock trial charging documents and witness statements and review the exhibits before the trial.
  • Student reporters observe the first round of the Regional Mock Trial competition during mock trial regionals. All participants must watch a mock trial.
  • Reporters are encouraged to take notes on a laptop or with pencil/paper. NO AUDIO OR DIGITAL RECORDINGS are allowed.
  • Students are asked to write a 500- to 600-word story (word count includes the headline) on the trial. Stories must be typed.
  • After writing the news article, students will submit it in PDF format to the NSBF via a google form.
  • Judges will score the first round of submissions.
  • Students will receive their edited news articles back via email.
  • All students will be notified as to whether or not they are moving onto the State Championship.

Mock Trial State Championship

  • The top 6 at-large students and the top 6 students with a mock trial team are invited to the state championship where students will watch a State Mock Trial.
  • Student writers are encouraged to read the mock trial charging documents and witness statements and review the exhibits before the trial.
  • Reporters are encouraged to take notes on a laptop or with pencil/paper. NO AUDIO OR DIGITAL RECORDINGS are allowed.
  • Students are given two hours to write a 500- to 600-word story (word count includes the headline) on the trial. Students may use their notes. Stories must be typed. 
  • Students must submit the article via google doc in PDF format by the end of the two hours. Late submissions will not be scored.
  • Following the first state round, students eat lunch with media representatives and a member of the judiciary who will be available to answer questions and offer general advice.
  • Students are asked to prepare questions in advance to ask the mentors about reporting on court proceedings.
  • At the State Mock Trial Championship Banquet, the winner of the Student New Reporter Contest will be announced.

Scoring

Evaluators who are media professionals will score each article. Stories are scored based on content, accuracy, and balance. The student with the highest cumulative score is the winner. In the event of a tie, the evaluators will confer to determine a winner.

Recognition Banquet

The Mock Trial Student News Reporter winner will receive an award at the Recognition Banquet.   Additionally, the school will receive a plaque. Student reporters are expected to attend the banquet with their Mock Trial team members and will be included in the recognition of their teams. 

The 2019 Judge Lyle Strom High School Mock Trial Students News Reporter winner is Damon Bennett of Northwest High School. Taegan Jacobs, a student at Bellevue West High School, was the first winner in the Judge Lyle Strom High School Mock Trial Student News Reporter Contest.

Damon Bennett of Northwest High School.
Damon Bennett, of Northwest High School, with Justice Stephanie Stacy and his Teacher Coach Brian Gibson.
Mock Trial