30 NYC Public High Schools Join Journalism for All Inaugural Cohort
NEW YORK, NY – Journalism for All, a public-private initiative to build sustainable journalism programs in underserved high schools, has selected 30 public schools across New York City’s five boroughs for its inaugural cohort. Led by the NYC Youth Journalism Coalition (YJC), the initiative aims to expand equitable access to youth journalism and foster a media landscape that reflects and supports a diverse democracy.
“Today marks the beginning of countless stories waiting to be told by voices that deserve to be heard,” said Jason Meilands, a teacher at Lyons Community School, one of the 30 selected schools. “With these new resources, we're empowering students to become seekers of truth, champions of facts, and storytellers for their community.”
The initiative prioritizes equity, selecting schools where an average of 84% of students face economic hardship, according to NYC Department of Education data. Six schools report hardship rates above 95%. The cohort includes three transfer schools, four schools with bilingual education programs, and six schools with specialized programs for students with disabilities.
“I am deeply grateful to Journalism for All for recognizing the potential within our students and for offering them this life-changing opportunity,” said Jamie Kijowski, assistant principal at The Mickey Mantle School, a District 75 school serving students with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. “This is not just about learning journalism; it’s about empowering our students, amplifying their voices, and giving them the tools to succeed in the workforce.”
The initiative drew applications from 55 high schools. Each application included a narrative from the prospective journalism teacher, plans for how the school would develop its program, and statements of support from students, the principal and other stakeholders. Selection criteria prioritized schools that lacked robust existing journalism programs, had an open admissions process, and primarily served marginalized student populations.
“This is opening up doors for a small school,” said Autumn Wynn, a junior at Park Slope Collegiate, one of the cohort schools.
Wynn, whose school does not yet offer journalism, sought opportunities outside of school. “As a young Black student who grew up around people who didn’t always have a voice, journalism gave me the tools to express myself,” she said.
The selected schools will receive three years of hands-on support to launch and sustain journalism programs. This includes a full-year high school journalism curriculum, teacher training from experts at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, startup funds, in-kind support from nonprofit service providers, and paid summer internships for students. Educators will begin professional development in January 2025, and journalism courses will launch at all 30 schools in September.
Journalism for All aims to create a scalable model that addresses the equity gap in journalism education. By 2028, YJC plans to establish a proven framework to expand journalism opportunities across New York City and nationwide.
“We understand that creating a sustainable, system-wide program relies on clear evidence of its impact—and we are prepared to deliver,” said CJ Sánchez, director of the Youth Journalism Coalition. “We are committed to measurable results demonstrating how journalism education transforms students’ lives and strengthens their communities. By working together—students, educators, City agencies, community organizations, and more—we’re not only creating opportunities today, but we’re laying the groundwork for every student, no matter their zip code, to have the tools to shape the future of our schools, city, and nation.”
The initiative is funded by the Charles H. Revson Foundation, Helen Gurley Brown Foundation, D J McManus Foundation, and The Pinkerton Foundation.
Full List of Selected High Schools
A School Without Walls
ATLAS High School
Bronx Haven High School
Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy
Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment
Brooklyn Institute for Liberal Arts
Civic Leadership Academy
East Bronx Academy for the Future
El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice
Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School
Gotham Collaborative High School
Gotham Professional Arts Academy
Gotham Tech High School
High School for Excellence and Innovation
High School for Global Citizenship
High School of Telecommunication Arts & Technology
John Adams High School
John Dewey High School
Laboratory School of Finance and Technology
Lower East Side Prep
Lyons Community School
P811M@499 The Mickey Mantle School
Park Slope Collegiate
Port Richmond High School
Teachers Preparatory High School
The Young Women's Leadership School of The Bronx
Urban Assembly Maker Academy
Urban Assembly Music and Art
United Charter for the Humanities
West End Secondary School
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