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From blogging to podcasting to creating online videos, 4H youth are leading the way, using new media and communication tools to share breaking news, event coverage and educational information with their community.
 

For example, the 4H News technology club in Jefferson County, Wash., provides onthespot reports through video clips and podcasts posted to their 4H Network News Web site. Club members have covered a fire in an historic hotel and a Red Cross disaster training exercise and conducted interviews with local business leaders.
 The youth are handson in every step of putting together the onetotwominute news segments. “We get ideas about what we`ll do and who we`ll interview, then we take the camera, tape footage, put it on the computers and edit it,” 15yearold Sophie Gilbert said.
 Gilbert was the first to film a  reunion video, but soon realized the educational value of her community. She has produced a story about her quitting drugs and alcohol and a beach restoration project. “We have to talk about some  important things happening in our county and in the world,” she said. The
  club was formed jointly by the local 4H club, the Washington State University expansion office, and the local newspaper. Jack Olmsted, 4H Club Leader, Pamela Roberts, 4H Coordinator at the Jefferson County 4H Office, and Newspaper Publishers work closely with  youth.
 “Online media can be a priceless resource to capture not only the value of the 4H experience, but also for our community, country and the world,” said Olmsted. “The youth are getting the process down and planning segments while making them enjoyable but also informative.”
 The 4H reporters publish their stories to an international audience using tools that are readily available in homes and officesa video camera, computer linked to the Internet and telephone. “It is important to show the world that this can be done and it`s easy for anyone to do,” said 13yearold Daniel Bryant.
 Club members see themselves as a resource to others who want to start using online media. They also improve their public speaking skills and build selfesteem as they teach adults how to create and post news segments.
 4H is a community of young people across the United States learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.