I learned last school year that MTV would be doing a multi-part “documentary” about my high school newspaper, The Circuit. I was skeptical of how the network that brought you “My Super Sweet 16” would cover a journalism class/newspaper and I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Here is the trailer for “The Paper”
The show premiered Monday night after being released Thursday for free on iTunes.
I’ve met most of the kids featured and I didn’t notice any such rancor when I visited, but obviously there’s a wee bit of tension — or more than a wee bit. Nevertheless, they’ve put out some great issues this year, so I can report [spoiler warning?] that the newsroom does not burn down.
As a “reality show,” it is of course not actual reality because people are always going to play to the camera, particularly when two of the featured staffers have been in drama club. Try to guess which ones by commenting below.
I’ll be visiting again sometime during the week of April 28 and perhaps I will do an interview with the featured players and Mrs. Weiss, the most awesome high school newspaper adviser ever.
Stay tuned for that, and the rest of the series — Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on MTV.
Side note: The Miami Hurricane was approached last year by a group that wanted to a reality show about us called “The Chronicles.” We got a good laugh from the mock-up flyer/poster, which hangs in my office, because of how hyped the concept was.
We thought it would be a pretty boring show since there was no office drama and declined.
Weigh in: Did you watch “The Paper?” What did you think?
Related links
MTV’s ‘The Paper’: Where Teens, Journalism and Coolness Meet – Mallary Tenore
Meet some teenagers who are passionate about journalism – Romanesko
MTV‘s New Show Called “The Paper” – premieres on April 14 – Wired Journalists
MTV to air series on high school newspaper – Student Newspaper Survival Blog
