Oakville School Counselor, Lorenzo Spicer.

At the invitation of school counselor, Lorenzo Spicer, on May 12, TheBAYNET.com introduced the news business to Oakville Elementary School fourth and fifth grade students as part of the school’s Career Week activities. 

The youngsters gobbled up TBN’s presentation in the school’s auditorium as Managing Editor, Pete Hurrey and Site Manager, Kristen Leitch told students what instant news reporting was all about.
 
Students were surprised to learn that TBN uses very little paper when they gather news to be uploaded to the site, helping to improve the environment. They also learned that anyone in Southern Maryland can be a TBN reporter. All they need is a camera and access to email and they can submit news stories themselves.
 
Many asked about whether both Hurrey and Leitch enjoyed their jobs and being in the news business. Hurrey laughed and told the audience that TBN would have to take him out in a pine box before he would leave TBN. Leitch told children that she had gone to college for journalism and that after her stint with WUSA Channel 9 she was right were she belonged – a fast paced, exciting breaking news organization.
 
The curious students peppered Hurrey and Leitch about everything under the sun including what they should study to become part of a news organization. Hurrey told students that to report the news, students would have to master the English language and craft their writing skills in order to be able to report the “Who, What, When, Where and Why” required by news stories. He also lectured students that not only should learn to love writing, but they would need to be able to tell a complete news story in eight paragraphs or less.
 
The session was cut a bit short when TBN received some breaking news in the middle of the lecture and Hurrey and Leitch had to return to their news desks and make sure the news was uploaded.
 
In an email received from Spicer, students stated that they all enjoyed the lecture and wanted to submit more questions to be answered. Hurrey laughed and told them sure. The email received will now keep Hurrey and Leitch busy for weeks to come. Oakville Elementary School fourth and fifth graders are a very curious group of students!