High school and middle school TV news is a rich vein of content for local TV stations that recognize the value in it.

Students in grades 6 through 12 are writing, shooting and editing news packages constantly that get shown during newscasts at their schools. For TV stations, it represents material not shown on TV, created by a demo that’s underrepresented on local TV.

These students have a lot to say about their schools and their lives and they often say it well with video.

It can be free content for stations that can open up the pipeline for school-sanctioned material and make a regular place for it during their newscasts and digitally.

Not only would it draw younger viewers, but their parents, teachers and school administrators who would vie for inclusion in the program.

And many of these students could be the next generation of local TV journalists.

WTIC, Tegna’s Fox affiliate in Hartford, Conn., has had such a program for three decades, first as FOX61 Kids News and today as FOX61 Student News.

In June, WTIC produced a 90-minute ceremony that live streamed on FOX61 to award winners in eight categories. More than 100 schools participated in this year’s FOX61 Student News program.

Each year, dozens of stories are produced on a wide variety of topics that impact communities across Connecticut.

Nominees for the FOX61 Student News Awards were chosen by a panel of FOX61 on air talent and other broadcast industry professionals.

This was the first in-person ceremony since 2019 due to Covid. It was held at Wilde Auditorium at the University of Hartford Conference Center.

“This year’s content is incredible, and we congratulate all students, teachers and families who participated,” says Humberto Hormaza, WTIC’s GM.

Presenting sponsor Big Y and supporting sponsors the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Load Authority, the Connecticut Office of the Arts, the Connecticut Department of Education, the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and ACES provide financial and promotional support to FOX61 Student News.

Here is the entire 90-minte FOX61 Student News program. Below that are the individual winners in each category.

Here are the winners: