Editing from NBCU Academy and Adobe is a video production competition for middle and high school classroom students as they research, write, film, and edit their own news segments. The program introduces the basics of journalism and multimedia storytelling. It also includes detailed teacher and student guides, planning templates, and access to professional and academic quality Adobe planning tools.
The experience walks students through the full production process—from brainstorming and story development to photography, sound recording, and final editing—while emphasizing collaboration and clearly defined team roles. Along the way, students build communication skills, digital citizenship, and media literacy aligned with CCSS ELA, ISTE, and CTE standards. With its easy-to-use features and streamlined basics, The Edit is designed to require minimal setup while delivering an authentic, real-world learning experience.
We asked Denver math teacher Zander Epps to share how he uses The Edit in his classroom. He is now in his seventh year of teaching and is looking for ways to connect math with real-life applications. He also wants his students to take responsibility for their own learning.
Here’s what he had to say about the show.
What grade levels and subject areas do you feel the Programming from NBCU Academy and Adobe competition is best suited for?
I think this contest is best suited for middle school and high school students. It is a natural fit for health, video production, speech, personal finance, yearbook, journalism, and other CTE courses. These classes already include some form of reporting, so The Hlela slides right into what students are doing. However, it also applies to important subjects. I used it in my math class by connecting it to our percentage unit and financial information.
Does this competition adhere to any specific standards or course guidelines?
Planning follows several sets of standards:
- CTE ratings multimedia production, journalism, and broadcasting
- CCSS ELA/Literacy writing, speaking, and listening
- ISTE Standards communication, knowledge creation, and digital citizenship
How have you used this competition in your classroom?
We used it during our percent unit. At the same time, we were exploring real-world topics like taxes and interest rates. Students use what they learned to create reports on financial literacy issues—for example, explaining the difference between debit and credit cards so that other students can understand what is coming their way.
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 recording, Adobe Express helped my students turn research and documents into polished stories.
How do your students react? What do they say?
The first thing I heard was, “We’re getting a chance to be famous?!” Many of my outgoing students immediately wanted to be on camera. I then explained the behind-the-scenes production roles. After that, the whole class shared the same interest. By the end of the presentation, many groups were already discussing topics that they thought would be interesting and interesting to report on.
How easy was it to do the editing contest?
Editing made it very easy to use. Very little preparation is required. The teacher’s guide provided all the information I needed to get started, and the student’s guide put the process in their hands. Use clear displays, separate instructions, and editable templates. I still answered a few technical questions, but for the most part, the students were able to lead themselves on the project while I provided support as needed.
Adobe Express is the creative engine behind The Edit, offering readers a professional yet accessible way to tell real stories. By combining video clips, text, and narration in one easy-to-use environment, students build media literacy and communication skills while creating reports similar to the way newsrooms work today.
What are the top two things you liked the most?
First, teacher and student guidelines. The student guide breaks down every step of the reporting process and helps students stay organized with interview templates and tips for creating a powerful news report.
Second, access to Adobe tools and templates. Students can quickly shape their final videos, and tutorial videos show them how to add effects and record voice-overs. As a result, their projects look polished and professional.
What makes The Edit special or different?
This generation is surrounded by social media and media people, but this competition allows them to experience what it’s like to be part of a video production team. They see that it’s not just about the person in front of the camera—it’s a whole team with specific responsibilities working together to create the final product. That experience can spark a new love or future lifestyle.
How has participating in The Edit from NBCU Academy and the Adobe competition helped you teach your students?
It taught the importance of teamwork through real-world experience. Creating a news report is not as easy as they thought it would be—everyone needs to do their part. The students answered each other because they depended on each other. Whatever the results of the competition, they took with them a new appreciation for multimedia production.
Would you do this competition again? Why?
Definitely. Each year brings a different mix of people, and this gives students a common goal. I love looking at the finished projects at the end and seeing how proud the students are of what they have created.
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.
