Wonderfully done for a "rookie reporter."

Notably, the use of ambient sound is to be complimented here. The way the surrounding sounds are woven in and out of the story, it really helps us ease out of one section and into another. It is almost if we are walking in between rooms. (Although... during the "Mean Girls" scene I thought it was a little bit sound heavy, and could have been scaled back).

The surprising twist in which we come to understand another culture through a story about gossip is very neat. That is really the catch here... what makes this piece unique. South Asian Muslim culture explained through the guise of girls gossiping is a neat place to take us. Only change I would have made is to hint at this point a little more in the beginning, so we know what we are getting into.

The use of the "expert" is creative, and really helps us connect and understand more. While no groundbreaking territory is unearthed, it is a good reminder of what we exactly are doing when we gossip.

Final note: Visual language is very creative here. I can really see what the reporter is describing. And the lapses into casual speech help characterize here as a real person, again making it easier to connect.

Matt Terrell
Youth Editorial Board
generation.prx.org