Changing teen misconceptions about journalists
By Candace Bowen, MJE When the News Literacy Project looked at teen attitudes toward news media in 2024, the results were depressing. Forty-five percent said they believed journalists and news organizations “do more to harm democracy than to protect it.” Also, almost 70% thought news organizations “intentionally add bias to coverage to advance a specific…
Read MoreStudent journalists and access: What you can (and can’t) do to gather news
Student reporters can sometimes face closed doors. From interviews to student government meetings, access rules can be confusing. This post reviews some basics about student journalists’ rights to gather news, viewed through the lens of a specific example from a private Quaker school. By Diana Day Student government meetings at my private Quaker school take…
Read MorePower to the People: Do they use that power wisely? (Constitution Day 2025)
Constitution Day 2025: Power to the People Class research activity: Do they use that power wisely? The Constitution, signed in 1787, begins with a short preamble, spelling out its intent. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,…
Read MoreThe Constitution’s promise: E Pluribus Unum – Out of many, one (Constitution Day 2025)
How can journalists help? Overview and Rationale Constitution Day and Citizenship Day – the second part is new for 2025 — is a U.S. federal observance that honors the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is observed Sept. 17, the day delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed…
Read MoreAchieving ethical fitness is key journalistic tool
Evaluating ethical fitness’ red, green light approaches To be a journalist, ethics must be a part of you — not a page in a book or framed parchment on a wall.” (–Gerald M. Sass, The Freedom Forum) Because it is part of you, you need to maintain a certain level of ethical fitness. Our schools…
Read MoreNow more than ever
‘The Elements of Journalism’ for student media “Now more than ever….” It’s a song title, a well-known speech to military troops, a documentary about the band Chicago, and a phrase used by those who want to emphasize the importance of something happening RIGHT NOW. And there’s certainly plenty going on in the world, in our…
Read MoreNavigating legal challenges: Essential advice for student journalists covering immigration
Mike Hiestand, senior legal counsel from the Student Press Law Center, talks with Diana Day from the Scholastic Press Rights Committee about what young journalists need to know about their legal rights and responsibilities when covering immigration topics. Scholastic journalists across the country are grappling with a number of ethical and logistical challenges when reporting…
Read More