Application opens for Journalism for All, new initiative to expand journalism education in New York City public high schools
The $3 million public-private initiative marks a significant step in addressing disparities in access to journalism education in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY — Last Thursday, the NYC Youth Journalism Coalition began accepting applications for Journalism for All, a citywide, public-private initiative to build sustainable journalism programs in underserved public high schools. The initiative will provide three years of hands-on support to an initial cohort of 30 public high schools starting in early 2025. The launch coincides with the introduction of legislation in the New York City Council pertaining to high school journalism programs.
Selected schools will receive a dynamic, new high school journalism curriculum, paid professional development, startup funds, in-kind support from nonprofit service providers, and paid summer internship positions for students seeking out-of-school journalism opportunities.
“Luck brought me to one of the few Title I schools with a journalism program, but that access should not be left up to chance,” said Katelynn Seetaram, student newspaper editor at Pace High School and leader with the Youth Journalism Coalition. “Being a student journalist goes far beyond writing articles. Teaching us how to use our voices is not only important for empowering young people to express ourselves effectively but also builds our media literacy, confidence, and a sense of being connected to our communities. Being part of my school’s publication is going to benefit me and my communities long after graduation.”
Addressing Inequitable Access
According to a 2022 Baruch College report, only about 1 in 4 NYC public high schools has a student newspaper, and that figure drops to just 7 percent among the 100 schools with the highest student poverty rates. Overall, even fewer schools offer journalism as a credit-bearing course. One of the barriers to offering a journalism course has been access to a high-quality curriculum. A team at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is changing that by developing a detailed, year-long journalism curriculum with units on reporting basics, news literacy, ethics, audio and broadcasting, and much more. The curriculum, available starting in the 2025-26 school year, will be free not just to schools selected for the initiative but to any NYC public high school.
“We're confident our curriculum will mark a major step toward ensuring equitable access to journalism opportunities in high schools across the city," said Graciela Mochkofsky, dean of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. "This effort speaks to key aspects of our mission: fostering a civically engaged population and cultivating future generations of journalists from all the communities that make up our society.”
Over the first three years, an estimated 2,250 public high school students across 30 high schools will complete a year-long journalism elective course and have opportunities to publish stories for student news publications. Approximately 120 of these students will have the chance to participate in a paid summer internship at a local news outlet. The goal of Journalism for All is to create a model that can be replicated across all 500 public high schools, and in other cities around the country.
Support from City Hall
Last week, City Council Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph introduced LS 14043, a bill that would require the NYC Department of Education to report annually on student journalism programming at every public high school. Council Member Joseph was the lead sponsor of a resolution passed in August that calls on the DOE to support a student news publication at every public high school.
“As we move the mantle forward on expanding access to youth journalism, this bill represents more than just a legislative effort, it's a commitment to ensuring that our educational system prioritizes the voices of our students,” said Council Member Rita Joseph. “By gathering critical data, we’ll be able to assess the resources and opportunities needed to support and uplift the next generation of journalists. These young writers, reporters, and creators are the storytellers of tomorrow, and it is essential that we provide them with the platform and tools they need to thrive. This is about making sure that in New York City, student voices are not only heard but celebrated, ensuring a future where their stories shape our collective understanding.”
Funding for the Initiative
Journalism for All is supported by private foundations, including The Charles H. Revson Foundation, D J McManus Foundation, and The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation. Additional funding is expected to come from public sources, including the New York City Council. The Youth Journalism Coalition is seeking additional private donors to achieve the initiative’s full vision, which has a price tag of approximately $3 million.
“Student journalism is civic education in action for the student journalists and the students who consume the news created by their peers,” said Julie Sandorf, President of The Charles H. Revson Foundation. “Building an essential ‘muscle’ of discerning fact from fiction, and creating trustworthy information about everyday issues that matter to young people and their communities should not be a privilege enjoyed primarily by students attending the highest performing schools. It is a life skill and necessary element of good citizenry for all young people.”
All details surrounding the initiative and application can be found on the Journalism for All webpage. Applications from interested schools will be accepted until November 4.
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