Braden River High students interview 'Idol' contestants

EAST COUNTY — Braden River High School’s second- through fourth-year journalism students say they aren’t star-struck teenagers when they talk to television personalities each week.

But when the conversation turns to their classmate, “American Idol” contestant Sam Woolf, high-pitched conversations fill the classroom.

“Stop, (at graduation), he would sit two seats down from me,” one student says.

And Woolf isn’t the exception.

Thirteen journalism students spend their Friday afternoons interviewing “Idol” contestants who have been booted off the show.

On April 11, during the weekly 1 p.m. press conference, students asked two questions of contestant Malaya Watson.

Watson marks the third contestant the students have interviewed. They previously interviewed MK Nobilette and Majesty Rose.

Since mid-March, from 1 to 1:30 p.m., each Friday during sixth period, the journalism students leave their classes and converge on a conference room for the interview. They look calm at first, but once 1 p.m. hits, they can’t be described as anything but giddy.

Students said their interview with Watson was their favorite, so far.

The students’ interviewing experience started when Woolf made his debut on “American Idol” in January.
It was then that Jillian Bieber, journalism instructor and supervisor of Braden River’s student paper, The Spyglass, thought of her students’ next big story.

“As soon as we found out he was on the show, I told them, ‘We have to get to Sam,’” Bieber said.

Sixteen-year-old Brandon Huynh, entertainment editor of The Spyglass, made the connection for his classmates.

After receiving contact information for an “American Idol” media representative and exchanging a few emails, Huynh landed the chance for The Spyglass students — the only students in the country — to interview the singing celebrities, alongside media outlets such as the Associated Press and Hollywood Reporter.

The students can ask the contestants one question and one follow-up question, with a chance of additional inquiries, if time permits, at the end of the conference call.

To prepare each Friday morning, students research the former contestant’s background and collect as much information as possible.

Later, they compile their notes and collectively decide what to ask. Huynh facilitates the 30-minute interview.

Huynh hopes he and his classmates have created a tradition at the school.

“I hope this is something we can continue to do, and that will continue to go on for as long as possible,” Huynh said, smiling.

Students will write stories based on their interviews. Additionally, students will edit video footage of the April 11 Q&A this week to later present at the Florida Scholastic Press Association State Convention April 24 to April 26, in Orlando.

Bieber, who has been involved with the school’s journalism program for more than seven years, sees the experience as invaluable for her writers-in-training.

“This is a second-to-none experience, where the students participate in a real life teleconference,” Bieber said. “The project is the school, it’s Sam, and it’s what we do as journalists.”

Students’ favorite:
Overall contestant to interview: Malaya Watson

Contestant with whom to have a conversation: MK Nobilette

Candid interview moment: When Watson excused herself from the interview for a few minutes to do something else.

Favorite questions from another interviewer: “Do braces affect the way you sing? When do you get them off?”

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].