“The goal is to make sure that people who have power use it responsibly.“ -Ariel
(Illustration of Ariel by Penelope)
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming and sharing so many stories with us, I loved them so much!
My favorite part was learning about interviewing strategies, I will use them for sure!
I thought it was surprising that so many people did not answer you no matter what you did. I think it is interesting you write so many stories.
I learned interviewing strategies that I really want to use!
From,
Cydney
You taught me how to dive deeper and I will use that in reporting.
Dear Ariel,
Thanks for coming to our class. I did not know that people don’t have to answer you. Is it true that BuzzFeed could be shut down? Are you sure that your article is 100 percent real?
You taught me how to dive deeper and I will use that in reporting.
Sincerely,
Dante
Today I learned that when you are writing an article even if you make one tiny mistake, you must fix it.
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming and telling us about your experience on working at BuzzFeed.
My three favorite things that you did were: 1) telling us what articles you have done, 2) telling us the process of making the articles accurate, and 3) telling what you do as a journalist.
Today I learned that when you are writing an article even if you make one tiny mistake, you must fix it.
Sincerely,
Emilia
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for sharing sharing your story.
Here is a list of my favorite parts: when you told us about your most exciting story, telling us how everyone says no when you ask things, and when you talked about yes or no questions.
Something that I learned is always ask follow-up questions. I also learned that you should always persist as long as you can get a good story. I think it is really cool that you work at BuzzFeed, I know that it is a big deal.
From,
Julian
…you didn’t just publish what you want, but what is correct.
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming in and talking about your work/job.
One thing I thought was interesting was how much people didn’t want to be interviewed. Another thing that I liked was that you didn’t just publish what you want, but what is correct. What I thought was interesting was that people thought your article was so wrong, but it wasn’t?
I learned that when I report, I will try to write down my questions.
Sincerely,
June
Dear Ariel Kaminer,
Thank you for sharing about what you and your team do, and for sharing your tips for us.
Something that I found interesting is the story about Trump, also, that Trump told Cohen to lie. Another thing that I found interesting is that sometimes you guys have to call, email, go to the office, and go to their personal home to get an answer.
One thing I learned is don’t use your background knowledge.
From,
Ivy
I liked the suggestion of looking the person you’re interviewing in the eye.
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming to our class. Your story about people thinking your article was fake was interesting. Also, tell Penelope her intro was great too.
I learned a lot from you and will use it in my articles. I will definitely record sometimes. And I liked the suggestion of looking the person you’re interviewing in the eye.
Sincerely,
Lila
PS: I liked hearing about your work and love doing journalism too!
It is so cool what you do, lead a group of people and find out the facts and secrets.
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for taking time out of your day to come in and talk to our class about your job!
I enjoyed when you talked about the guy who was told by Trump to lie to the Congress. It is also so fascinating how you find out secrets (facts) about people, like how you found out facts about the police. It is so cool what you do, lead a group of people and find out the facts and secrets.
I learned so much and to use add on questions when I am reporting.
Best,
Lily
I learned that you should ask the same question to other people to see their point of view.
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming and teaching us about your job. I thought it was very interesting how you and the BuzzFeed crew get the story.
I was surprised that so many people believed you were lying about Cohen lying to Congress under oath. And I thought it was cool that you can learn about secret things by reporting.
I learned that you should ask the same question to other people to see their point of view.
I learned that if people don’t give me the information I want, I keep on asking.
PS: Your stories are very interesting.
Sincerely,
Nico
It was really surprising when you said that it sometimes takes years to do an article. We have a month, but years are a lot longer!
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming to talk about journalism.
Why would people say your article was wrong when it was right? Or is it because people didn’t know? Another question: How do you get enough information if people refuse to talk about whatever you are writing about?
It was really surprising when you said that it sometimes takes years to do an article. We have a month, but years are a lot longer!
Sincerely,
Paloma
Dear Mommy,
Thank you for coming to our classroom. Everybody loved it but I love you!
To me it was surprising that you only report on secret stuff. I loved when you told us the stories about what you have been writing about. It was funny when you said, “…and Trump might go to jail…” and everybody cheered. Afterwards, people came up to me and told me how good it was!
PS: When I am reporting if someone starts to say something that is not your angle, start to do the thing that the person is talking about because there is probably more information.
Love,
Penelope
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for making me better at journalism. I can’t believe the police covered up information. The first amendment is about journalists, that’s so cool. I liked the saying that, “if your mother tells you she loves you, check it.”
I learned that you should think of questions at two different times before you do the interview and while you do the interview.
From,
Sawyer
Is there any story that you did and you’re still thinking about today like, I could do better?
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming to share your job. Three of my favorite parts are when you talked about Trump when he could almost not be president. Another is WHY is Trump still President if he broke laws? Is there any story that you did and you’re still thinking about today like, I could do better?
PS: I learned that I should dig deeper when I interview.
Sincerely,
Selah
Dear Ariel,
I loved when you talked about that crazy story. I also loved when you talked about Trump and how he might be kicked out of the office. It was also fun to see everyone’s reaction.
I also liked when you talked about tips on how to report better, like the one where you get their address and give them a letter.
PS: Shaffer said, “You taught me to be persistent and to keep trying so then you will be able to achieve your final answer.”
Shaffer
I find it crazy that they didn’t include freedom of the press in the first draft of the Constitution!
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming in and telling us about your experience as a reporter and giving us some tips about reporting.
One thing that I found interesting is how little some people like to give information. It’s crazy how you even went to the boss’s house to get information and the answer was still no! Something else that I found interesting that I didn’t know before is how the first amendment to the Constitution was freedom of the press. I find it crazy that they didn’t include freedom of the press in the first draft of the Constitution!
I was also surprised that an investigative case can last for years! I had a question about that too. Do you write many articles over the course of those few years?
I will keep in mind that you have to keep pushing until you get a solid answer.
Best,
Vincent
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for coming. We all were so happy that you came.
My favorite part was when you talked about the stories you worked on. Do the people you work with usually help you with your stories? Is the place that you work in hard for you? When did you start working for BuzzFeed News? Also, when you are done with stories, and there are no other stories to write about, what do you do?
PS: I learned to always look into people’s eyes.
From,
Will
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for taking time from your day and visiting Deborah and Alicia’s Fourth Grade classroom.
I learned that journalists are so important to the world. I also learned that you should look people in the eye when reporting. I never thought to do it because it would be awkward.
I learned that you should look the person you are interviewing in the eye.
Love,
Zara
Dear Ariel,
Thank you for telling us journalism stories and how to be a journalist! One of my favorite parts was that some people refuse to be interviewed. A thing that surprised me was in some places you can’t be a journalist. It also surprised me that someone lied to Congress.
I learned to ask follow-up questions and I will do that in my interviews.
Love,
Ziva