GEOFF BENNETT: In Providence, Rhode Island, public schools have long faced scrutiny from low test scores and crumbling buildings to persistent challenges communicating with bilingual families.

But, as Ben Berke of Ocean State Media reports, one city elementary school is pushing back against that narrative thanks to a team of young reporters.

TASHA WHITE, Librarian: Should it be the goodbye and then a fun fact or should it be the fun fact and then a goodbye?

Like, it seems like a little thing, but it's not when we start to put the video together.

STUDENT: Goodbye, fun fact, then joke of the week.

STUDENT: Yes.

TASHA WHITE: Does everyone agree with that?

STUDENTS: Yes.

BEN BERKE: At the Alfred Lima Elementary School, the news day begins with a morning meeting.

The journalists, all fifth graders, talk with their publisher, a school librarian, about what they want to cover on the weekly show.

TASHA WHITE: You guys had mentioned on our calendar up there.

What day was National Pretzel Day?

BEN BERKE: Before heading out to report the story, they put on their press passes and test their equipment.

STUDENT: One, two, three, mic check.

BEN BERKE: On a typical news day, the news crew roams the hallways looking for teachers and students to interview.

This week, they're reporting on media literacy.

STUDENT: Three, two, one.

STUDENT: Hello, guys.

We're here with... WOMAN: Ms.

Gonzalez (ph).

JAYDEN CHICHON, Student: And we're now going to ask her two questions for today about media literacy.

(LAUGHTER) BEN BERKE: Back in the newsroom, the fifth graders write scripts and tape the show in two languages in front of a green screen.

TASHA WHITE: All right, are we ready?

All right.

In three, two... BEN BERKE: Later, they will release the show on YouTube and social media.

STUDENT: Good morning or good afternoon again and welcome back to a new Lima News episode.

STUDENT: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) BEN BERKE: Jayden Chichon says it's the kids who insisted on a bilingual news show, which is hard to find in Rhode Island.

JAYDEN CHICHON, Student: The entire school is bilingual.

All classes have at least a bit of Spanish and English.

We want everybody to know about the news, so everybody's informed.

BEN BERKE: The Lima News crew has been putting on a weekly show for about four years now.

Narella Estrada, another fifth grader, says their mission is simple.

NARELLA ESTRADA, Student: We inform people, students or teachers about what's happening in the school because some teachers or kids or students don't know what's happening.

BEN BERKE: But the Lima News crew has a bigger scope than students first anticipated.

Last year, the crew landed interviews with Rhode Island's biggest power players.

ALEISHA MEJIA, Student: Now we're here with another special guest.

We have Governor McKee.

GOV.

DANIEL MCKEE (D-RI): Yes, that's very good.

ALEISHA MEJIA: What's it like being a governor?

A lot of people want to know.

GOV.

DANIEL MCKEE: A lot of people want to -- you want to be a governor?

ALEISHA MEJIA: No, but... (LAUGHTER) BEN BERKE: Aleisha Mejia, who graduated from Lima last year, says interviewing people like the governor taught her something important.

ALEISHA MEJIA: Like, you shouldn't be scared to do something because what if it's just like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

I would just go for it, in my opinion.

BEN BERKE: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley also came to Lima last year.

Aleisha tracked him down on the hallway with a microphone.

ALEISHA MEJIA: I asked him if he -- I think if he could change one thing, what would it be?

Or what is the things he's been seeing?

BEN BERKE: Smiley and Aleisha talked about the rising cost of rent in Providence.

The conversation made such a big impression on the mayor, he mentioned it that night on local TV.

BRETT SMILEY, Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island: I had some hard-hitting questions this morning from the Alfred Lima News crew.

This is the Lima Elementary School.

It's an elementary school here in Providence.

They have a news team.

I was interviewed this morning by Brinelli (ph), Aleisha, and Leah (ph).

I appreciate their hard questions.

And, honestly, I hope one day they're standing in your spot, Kim.

WOMAN: I hope so.

BEN BERKE: It can be nerve-racking to interview a big shot like a mayor or a governor.

But kids like Jayden say they're enjoying it.

JAYDEN CHICHON: It feels blissful, you can say.

It feels good to get answers from a question that you want to know badly.

BEN BERKE: The journalism program has an emotional impact on the school's staff too.

Tasha White is the librarian and publisher of The Lima News.

TASHA WHITE: Even though I might be like, wow, I didn't get to that math lesson today, or I really wanted my students to score this on the last state test, right, but look at all the amazing things that are happening.

BEN BERKE: This seems like a way to reclaim the narrative about what's really going on in a Providence public school.

TASHA WHITE: Oh, hands down, hands down.

And, again, I think that a lot of times, people just get stuck on scores.

And our students are so much more than a score.

BEN BERKE: The kids and the recent alumni have a lot to say about what they have learned in Ms.

White's newsroom.

ALEISHA MEJIA: It's great that I learned more things about my state, because, like, who wouldn't want to know more about their state?

NARELLA ESTRADA: I learned how to interview people, how to interview them good, and also how to be in front of cameras.

STUDENT: It actually helped me with public speaking a lot.

JAHZEEL DENUNEZ, Student: I get to learn more about our community, how fun some teachers are.

BEN BERKE: For some students, getting journalism experience is influencing how they're thinking about their future.

What do you guys want to be when you grow up?

KEYSHIA ABAD, Student: I would like to be anything that has to do with art or probably even a journalist.

NARELLA ESTRADA: I want to be a journalist or a doctor.

BEN BERKE: And I really do hope that Keyshia becomes an artist and Narella becomes a doctor, because, if they don't, they might be coming for my job one day.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Ben Berke in Providence, Rhode Island.