Story Ideas Brainstorm

1. High School Sports: Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) is launching a new facet of its industry this fall - GPB Sports. After record viewing highs during last year's high school football championships, GPB Sports will broadcast the state's only high school sports show (GPB Sports Central) starting Aug. 25th. GPB Sports Central XL will also show live video chat featuring interviews with coaches, players and fans.
http://www.ghsa.net/
2. Government Educational Aid (How is it being spent?) - What are local schools using Georgia’s educational monetary grant for? Rehiring laid off teachers? Funding school programs? How will this affect students for better or for worse? What changes should students expect?
http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/07/26/daily29.html
3. Athens' first ever half marathon sponsored by AthFest. How did it start? What is the course like? How many participants will there be? Why it might appeal to high school runners.
http://athensgahalf.com/
4. A guide to upcoming events and concerts in the Athens area that might interest high school students - Athens Farmer's Market, Athens' first half-marathon, OkGo playing at 40-Watt, Corey Smith at Classic Center
http://athensfarmersmarket.net/, http://flagpole.com/Calendar/2010-09-11, http://athensgahalf.com/
5. Private vs. Public school - Advantages and disadvantages of each. Who sends their kids where and why? Do kids have a say? What made them choose one type of school over the other? Talk to local school administrators, parents and students.
http://onlineathens.com/stories/062109/pre_452972181.shtml
http://www.greatschools.org/georgia/athens/
6. Underage drinking. When does it start in high school? What are the dangers? What are local school consequences? Why do people start? Do they regret it? Is it just a way of life?
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm
7. SAT's. AP Subject Tests. ACT's. Best prep courses for the tests. Study myths that don't really help. Interview local tutors, teachers and students who have taken these tests before.
8. UGA's most diverse and most intelligent class yet. What does that mean for high school students in Athens? What sort of grades, scores and extra-curriculars could enhance their applications? Why students should start getting involved early. Talk to the University admissions committee, what are they looking for in students?
http://www.uga.edu/news/artman/publish/100813_Freshman_Class.shtml
9. How do increasingly bilingual middle and elementary schools in Athens affect local high schools? Cedar Shoals Elementary has an after school Spanish program – do high schools have similar programs? Should they? What are the diversity statistics in Athens high schools? Are they increasing?
10. To stay in Athens or not to stay. The pros and cons of going to college in the town where you grew up. Why people choose one route or the other. What percentage of students who grew up in Athens and went to UGA stay in Athens after graduation? Does UGA limit the number of students it accepts from local schools?
11. AP Courses and Joint Enrollment. What they mean for high school students. The pros and cons of each. Why high schools advocate one over the other. How colleges really view them.
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2010/01/14/state-board-makes-it-easy-to-convert-college-credits-in-joint-enrollment/
http://www.kennesaw.edu/university_studies/jehp/AP vs.pdf
12. A freshman’s guide to high school in Athens: How to survive your first semester. Tips on teachers, tutors and ideas for community involvement. Interview upperclassmen on advice for freshmen.