Dawson journalism 2020-2021
The journalism program for George Dawson Middle School in SOuthlake, TX.
Carroll isd
What do you do in journalism at Dawson Middle School? Click here to find out!
Breaking News: We just received news that the Dawson Middle School Yearbook Staff under the leadership of Josh Ault has earned the National Yearbook Program of Excellence award!
The National Yearbook Program of Excellence is awarded to yearbook programs based on the extraordinary efforts that go into creating an inclusive yearbook, generating school engagement, and successfully managing the yearbook creation process. With over 15,000 yearbook schools working with Jostens, your school is truly exceptional to have achieved this recognition.
7th grader Angela Cheng was presented her free copy of the yearbook for designing the cover this year. The yearbook staff wants to thank Angela for doing such an amazing job!
Norah O'Donnell, the anchor for CBS Evening News, wrote letters and sent these cool face masks to the journalism students on April 20, 2021. Thank you so much CBS News and Mrs. O'Donnell.
11 Dawson Middle School journalism students got published in the Dallas Morning News on March 7, 2021. They had just learned how to write editorials, and gave their opinions on the recent winter storm that devastated the entire state. You can read their letters by clicking this link.
Dawson Journalism students had the privilege to hear from two staff members from the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL on December 11, 2020 via Zoom. Elliot Spillers, EJI Project Manager, and Keiana West, EJI Justice Fellow, were able to explain the EJI's mission and answers students questions. Students are preparing a special newspaper and several newscasts on racial inequality.
Richard Glaubman, who wrote Life is so Good, with George Dawson spoke to the journalism students on April 5, 2021. The journalism students are doing special projects on the book and got some amazing insight on George Dawson's life. We appreciate him taking some time out of his life in Seattle, WA to talk with us!
BREAKING NEWS: Eight of the Dawson journalism students were published in the Dallas Morning News on November 8, 2020. They were assigned to write a letter to the editor about three different topics: why it is important to vote, how can we bring our country together, and why do they like living in the United States. We are so proud of the students that were published. It is so important, no matter what your age, your voice can be heard!
Journalism students were assigned a national journalist and had to create a presentation on that person.
8th grader Isabel Opat gives her presentation on Today Show anchor Hoda Kotb.
Dawson journalism student wrote letters to the journalists they were assigned. Mr. Ault mailed them off on Friday, September 4. We hope to get some replies before the end of the semester!
Form WATE 6 News executive producer Linda Skoglund spoke with journalism students on Zoom from Puerto Rico.
MSNBC Morning Joe booking producer Mike DelMoro spoke via Zoom from New York City on September 9.
WATE 6 News morning anchor Tearsa Smith spoke with students about her 16 year career in broadcast news from Knoxville, TN.
ABC News national corespondent Marcus Moore spoke with journalism students on September 16, 2020. He was a former WFAA anchor/reporter in Dallas.
Dawson Journalism's mission is to report fair and balanced stories about the students and teachers at George Dawson Middle School.
WTEN News 10 reporter Louis Finley spoke to the journalism students from Albany, NY on September 21, 2020.
NBC 5 reporter/anchor Ben Russell spoke with the students on September 30, 2020. He had just finished the midday newscast and was able to give them a tour of the studio.
Mary Brocato, Mr. Ault's journalism professor from Northwestern State University of Louisiana, spoke to journalism students on October 14, 2020. Before becoming a professor, she was the first female reporter at KALB-TV in Alexandria, LA. She has also taught high school English. Mrs. Brocato taught Mr. Ault everything he knows about being a journalist. She donated many of her journalism books to Mr. Ault's classroom. We appreciate her taking time to talk with the students.
San Antonio Univision meteorologist Gabriel Torres spoke to Dawson journalism students on October 21, 2020. He is a four time Emmy award winning journalist. He covers weather for all of the major cities in Texas for Spanish speaking viewers. He had worked with Mr. Ault at NBC 5/Telemundo in Dallas.
Rhonda Kitchens, the morning anchor and assistant news director at KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, LA, spoke to the journalism students on October 28, 2020. Kitchens and Mr. Ault worked together in 2006. Kitchens was able to show the students the damage to their station from Hurricane Laura and talk to them about the importance of writing.
KLTV morning anchor Lane Luckie spoke to Dawson journalism students on November 3, 2020. He was able to talk about the presidential election and why it had not been called yet. Luckie has been an anchor at KLTV in Tyler, TX for eight years. He graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana (the same school Mr. Ault graduated from).
Deborah Fleck, with the Dallas Morning News, spoke to the journalism students on November 10, 2020. Fleck is the Letters to the Editor editor at the DMN. She was the one responsible for getting the student's letters published on November 8. Fleck started her career in NYC and worked with legendary news anchor Peter Jennings.
KCEN-TV, morning producer, Nick Tarrant spoke to the
journalism students on January 20, 2021.
WATE 6 Meteorologist Ken Weathers visited journalism classes on February 4, 2021. He has been a meteorologist since 1992 and worked with Mr. Ault when he was a reporter in Knoxville, TN.
Dawson Scoop
The Dawson Scoop is the weekly school newspaper for DMS.
Dawson On-Air
Dawson On-Air is a daily newscast for students at DMS.
Yearbook
The Dawson yearbook staff is in charge of creating the school's yearbook.
If you have a story for the Dawson Scoop or Dawson On-Air email
mr. ault at josh.ault@southlakecarroll.edu
Check out the video above to find out what the Dawson Journalism student did in the fall 2000 semester of journalism!