Scholastic Kid Reporters have covered major global events and current affairs for Scholastic Kids Press for the past 20 years. They’ve interviewed changemakers in their communities, and reported on tough, but important news for their young readers—kids just like them. In Kid Reporter Q&A, we flip the script and ask these young pros how they report “news for kids, by kids.”
Back in February, at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, Kid Reporter Victoria Tang wrote about how it changed daily life in her city of Shanghai. Through her reporting, which she did from her home under quarantine, Victoria described how shifts in schooling, shopping, and even online healthcare had helped slow the spread of coronavirus in China.
Check out our Kid Reporter Q&A with Victoria to learn more about her coverage.
If you are looking for additional, kid-friendly resources about coronavirus, check out these free articles put together by the editors of Scholastic Classroom Magazines.
In your own words, what is your article about?
My article is about how coronavirus is seriously affecting people’s lives in China. Most people have to stay home to cope with coronavirus. My neighbor has to get all of her necessities online, and my classmate has to continue learning through online classes. Also, I interviewed Dr. Wang, the CEO of Medlink, a leading online hospital in China, to show how Chinese people see doctors online to avoid cross-infection in hospitals.
How did you approach your reporting on the coronavirus?
Chinese people’s lives changed dramatically while the COVID-19 disease was spreading ferociously in China. I wanted to show the world that this is a dangerous virus, and people should take precautions against it. When I first discussed this topic with my editor, Suzanne, the rest of the world was not as bad as today, but she told me to add information about the global trends. She also advised me to add a lot of useful details to show readers what real life looks like under the virus outbreak.
How did you prepare for your interviews?
Many Chinese people’s lives were put on pause and moved totally online. I decided to tell the story from three perspectives: daily life, education, and healthcare. I also considered what other kids would like to know about. Therefore, I decided to interview my neighbor to talk about staying indoors, my classmate to show how online education was being conducted, and the CEO of an online hospital about healthcare. Of course, I also did a lot of research on the virus and the healthcare system to come up with my questions.
What is a behind-the-scenes moment that you’d like to share with readers about your reporting for this story?
I was not familiar with the medical system in China at first. In order to do an in-depth report, I asked my grandma to use the online hospital while I observed how the doctor gave her advice online. I learned how efficient and effective it could be. And it makes people’s life much easier.
What is one thing you want kids to take away from reading your article?
One thing I want kids to take away from reading my article is how dangerous the new coronavirus is and how quickly it can spread around to so many people. I hope that after reading my article, people will be informed about how severe it is, and take more action to avoid more people getting infected. Also, I want my audience to know that Chinese people have tried extremely hard to fight this epidemic. It is extremely painful for us, but that’s the only way for China to overcome it.
This interview has been condensed and lightly edited.
