Santa Maria area school begins new student-run podcast

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Media students at Bonita Elementary School are expanding their reach.

The school's after-school media club recently started a podcast.

The Bonita News Podcast Show can now be heard across several audio-distribution platforms, such as Spotify, Soundcloud and RadioPublic.

The 10-minute long shows are entirely student-run.

Fifth and sixth grade students not only conduct all of the interviews, but also provide the technical engineering as well.

Each show has a student host, who interviews a guest from the community.

The interviews provide kids with numerous educational opportunities to learn about various careers, industries and what's happening in the area where they live.

So far students have recorded three podcasts, which included interviews with an actor, realtor and the CEO of the Santa Maria Boys and Girls Club.

"It's fun because I get to listen to everything and I get to moderate everything," said student Jomar Agtang. "I feel really good about myself that I could probably bring a smile to people's faces when they watch our newscast and listen to our podcast."

There are about 15 students taking part in the media club program at the school, which is located on Highway 166 about halfway between Santa Maria and Guadalupe.

The podcast comes one year after the school created an online news show, Bonita News TV.

The weekly show is also produced, directed, anchored and engineered by students.