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New Media Storytelling: A New English Elective
Written by Cooper Kahn.
This school year, the English department introduced a new elective for juniors and seniors: New Media Storytelling.
Upper School English teacher Mrs. Benoit created and teaches the class that focuses on various forms of mass media and journalism, with an underlying theme of ethics and truth in modern journalism.
When given the opportunity to develop this course, it was an easy decision for Mrs. Benoit. With a passion for literature dating back to her childhood, 12 years of teaching experience at Providence Day School, and a background in journalism, she felt confident in her ability to create a journalism class.
“I knew I had this interest in storytelling and writing for the media, so I decided to put it all together and create a class,” Mrs. Benoit said. “I believe I have a responsibility to get my students thinking critically and to practice reading and writing others’ stories, especially those that exist outside mainstream media.”
While exploring different forms of journalism and mass media is a core part of the curriculum, Mrs. Benoit places even more emphasis on the ethical values in journalism.
During the first week of school, Mrs. Benoit introduced her class to Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie’s TED Talk The Danger of a Single Story. Adichie’s main message encourages people to resist internalizing stereotypes and instead remain open to learning about others' stories and backgrounds. Mrs. Benoit said the message is “the foundation of the class,” as she believes it is crucial to understand and embrace different perspectives.
Mrs. Benoit plans to keep Trevor Noah’s autobiographical novel Born a Crime as a key part of the curriculum in the years to come. The course will continue to focus on writing, though Mrs. Benoit acknowledges that the class will evolve over time, reflecting the constant changes in mass media.
While the curriculum may shift from year to year, one constant will remain: her father’s mantra, which she tells her students: “Read everything you can get your hands on.”
