Wayne High's Landen Sharer participated in the Nebraska State Mock Trial News Reporter contest last week at the Nebraska State Mock Trial competition.
Landen joined students from other schools from around the state in the competition. The competition consisted of Landen watching the first trial of the competition, Gering v. Wayne. There he took notes and prepared to write a 500-600 word article on what he saw.
After the trial, Landen was provided lunch, a room to work and two hours to complete the article. Once completed, the article was judged by local media judges. The announcement of the winner was done at the 2025 State Mock Trial awards banquet.
"Landen won the competition and was named the State Champion Mock Trial News Reporter. Congrats Landen," said Wayne Mock Trial Coach Josh Johnson.
The 2018 State Championship marked the inaugural Mock Trial Student News Reporter Contest.
The Student News Reporter Contest is offered at both the regional and state level. The contest was created to help students practice news reporting skills at the local level. The contest is a hands-on experience in a courtroom. Additionally, the contest allows student journalists to learn about courtroom procedures and the trial process. At the State Championship, students are mentored by news reporters and judges.
Any high school student who wants to participate in the contest can, regardless of whether there is a mock trial team at the contestant’s home school. If a student does not have a mock trial team, they contact the Nebraska State Bar Foundation for a list of area mock trial teams in order to watch a regional trial.
The top 6 at-large students continue onto the state championship. The top six students with a mock trial team will continue onto state.
The Student News Reporter Contest adds another realistic component to the Mock Trial competition. It was developed through a collaboration of the Bench Media Committee of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation; Doris Huffman, Executive Director of the Foundation; and Jim Timm, President and Executive Director of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.
Additional information on the competition is as follows:
Mock Trial State Championship
The top 6 at-large students and the top 6 students with a mock trial team are invited to the state championship where students will watch a State Mock Trial.
Student writers are encouraged to read the mock trial charging documents and witness statements and review the exhibits before the trial.
Reporters are encouraged to take notes on a laptop or with pencil/paper. NO AUDIO OR DIGITAL RECORDINGS are allowed.
Students are given two hours to write a 500- to 600-word story (word count includes the headline) on the trial. Students may use their notes. Stories must be typed.
Students must submit the article via google doc in PDF format by the end of the two hours. Late submissions will not be scored.
Following the first state round, students eat lunch with media representatives and a member of the judiciary who will be available to answer questions and offer general advice.
Students are asked to prepare questions in advance to ask the mentors about reporting on court proceedings.
At the State Mock Trial Championship Banquet, the winner of the Student New Reporter Contest will be announced.
