This reform, says Blankstein, begins with teachers. Part of what we do is give teachers insight about the factors motivating at-risk kids and how to get to academics through the back door. Good News for School Papers Dorothy Gilliam, veteran columnist for The Washington Post, is founder and director of the Young Journalists Development Project. The model program, begun in 1997, revives high school newspapers, mentors journalism advisors, and cultivates the talents of students interested in newspaper careers. The Internet is an extension of what's put on paper.
Many stories appear online, but someone still has to develop content.
The Internet offers a flood of information. But newspapers, because of a long history of gathering and organizing information, consider what's important and present it in a way that people understand. Students are so excited about having a voice, and teachers report that a newspaper enhances the whole school community. A University of Indiana study found that students who studied journalism or who were on high school papers achieved in college at higher levels than those who did not. What you learn by putting out a newspaper is to report, write, think, and analyze, and these basic skills form the foundation for any career.