NBCU Academy’s The Edit | Teacher Picks

The Edit from NBCU Academy and Adobe is a student video news production contest for middle and high school classrooms where they research, script, film, and edit their own news segments. The program introduces the fundamentals of journalism and multimedia storytelling. It also includes detailed teacher and student guides, planning templates, and access to professional-quality Adobe editing tools and tutorials.

The experience walks students through the full production process—from brainstorming and story development to filming, voice-over recording, and final editing—while emphasizing collaboration and clearly defined team roles. Along the way, students build skills in communication, digital citizenship, and media literacy that align with CCSS ELA, ISTE, and CTE standards. With its ready-to-use materials and structured supports, The Edit is designed to require minimal prep while still delivering an authentic, real-world learning experience.

We asked Denver middle school math teacher Zander Epps to share how he used The Edit in his classroom. He is now in his seventh year of teaching and looks for ways to connect math to real-life applications. He also wants his students to take ownership of their learning.

Here’s what he had to say about the program.

For which grade levels and subject areas do you feel The Edit from NBCU Academy and Adobe contest is best suited?

I think this contest is best suited for middle and high school students. It fits naturally in health, video production, speech, personal finance, yearbook, journalism, and other CTE courses. These classes already include some form of reporting, so The Edit slides right into what students are doing. However, it also works in core subjects. I used it in my math class by connecting it to our unit on percentages and financial literacy.

Does this contest align with any specific standards or curriculum guidelines?

The Edit aligns with several sets of standards:

• CTE standards for multimedia production, journalism, and broadcasting
• CCSS ELA/Literacy for writing, speaking, and listening
• ISTE Standards for communication, knowledge construction, and digital citizenship

How did you use this contest in your classroom?

We used it during our percentages unit. At the same time, we were exploring real-world topics like taxes and interest rates. Students applied what they were learning to create financial literacy news reports—for example, explaining the differences between debit and credit cards so other students could understand what’s coming up for them in the near future.

Students use Adobe Express to plan, produce, and edit their 90‑second video news reports for The Edit. With built‑in templates, simple video-editing tools, and easy voice-over recording, Adobe Express helped my students turn research and scripts into polished stories.

How did your students react? What did they say?

The first thing I heard was, “We get a chance to be famous?!” Many of my outgoing students immediately wanted to be on camera. Then I explained the behind-the-scenes production roles. After that, the rest of the class became just as interested. By the end of the introduction, multiple groups were already brainstorming topics they thought would be fun and interesting to report on.

How easy was it to implement The Edit contest?

The Edit made implementation very easy. There’s very little prep required. The teacher guide provided all the information I needed to get started, and the student guide put the process in their hands. It used clear visuals, chunked instructions, and editable templates. I still answered a few logistical questions, but for the most part, students were able to lead themselves through the project while I offered support as needed.

Adobe Express is the creative engine behind The Edit, giving students a professional yet accessible way to tell real news stories. By combining video clips, text, and narration in one easy platform, students build media literacy and storytelling skills while creating reports that mirror how newsrooms work today.

What were the top two things you liked most?

First, the comprehensive teacher and student guides. The student guide breaks down every step of the reporting process and helps students stay organized with brainstorming templates and tips for creating a strong news report.

Second, the access to Adobe’s professional tools and templates. Students shaped their final videos quickly, and the tutorial videos showed them how to add effects and record voice-overs. As a result, their projects looked polished and professional.

What makes The Edit special or unique?

This generation is surrounded by social media and media personalities, but this contest lets them experience what it’s actually like to be part of a video production team. They see that it’s not just about the person in front of the camera—there’s a whole group with specific responsibilities working together to create the final product. That experience can spark a new passion or even a future career path.

What did participating in The Edit from NBCU Academy and Adobe contest help you teach your students?

It taught the importance of teamwork through a real-world experience. Creating a news report isn’t as easy as they thought it would be—it requires every person to do their part. Students held each other accountable because they were depending on one another. No matter the contest results, they walked away with a new appreciation for multimedia production.

Would you do this contest again? Why?

Absolutely. Each year brings a different mix of personalities, and this gives students a shared goal. I love watching the finished projects at the end and seeing how proud students are of what they created.