Newspaper in Education
Subtitle: Getting Started: A Guide for Newspaper In Education Programs
Publisher: Newspaper Association of America Foundation
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Vienna, VA
Number of pages: 125
Description: The reach of Newpaper in Education (NIE) has expanded tremendously over the decades. When programs were first introduced in the 1930s, they were aimed mostly at secondary school students and were used to teach current events or a two-week unit called “What is the newspaper?” Today, there are programs and activities for preschool through college and beyond. Outside the school walls, NIE programs can be found in prisons, senior citizen centers, institutions for physically and mentally challenged, in college residence halls, and in classes for new residents from other countries that are learning English.
Since the early 1980s, many NIE programs have included an emphasis on literacy in their communities. Most of these use the newspaper to teach adults as well as young people how to read, often in a family setting. Others concentrate on making the public aware of literacy problems or on bringing community groups together to support literacy programs.
Creative and energetic educational professionals at various newspapers have generated an array of additional NIE offerings. Some newspapers have sponsored “Design-an-ad” contests, with the winning entries running as newspaper display advertisements for local businesses. Others have organized writing programs or mock trials addressing First Amendment issues. Many help teach or otherwise support journalism at local high schools. The potential for innovative educational programs seems to be limitless.
Quality NIE programs now organize their curricula offerings to schools so that they help the teachers meet state mandated standards. The advent to high-stakes, standardized tests have created a need for materials that will help students master those standards. NIE programs no longer seek to teach about the newspaper but now position themselves as the most relevant program available to help students master the concepts and content needed to successfully pass the state exams. A new NIE professional should obtain a copy of the standards that students must master in your local communities. Those are available through the city, county or state office of education. It is important that the NIE professional work with local educators to determine the needs of the school system when developing a new NIE program.
Table of contents: title: I. Understanding the educational services program; title: NIE: What is it? ………………………………………………….. 7; title: History of NIE ……………………………………………………. 9; title: How does NIE work? ………………………………………..…… 13; title: II. The who, where, and why of an educational services program; title: Where does the NIE program belong in the newspaper’s structure?..16; title: Who should run the program? …………………...………………… 17; title: Where to find an NIE professional ………………………..……….. 18; title: Why an NIE program: Setting priorities …………………….…..… 20; title: To the new NIE professional ……………………………………….. 22; title: III. Getting down to business; title: Initiating your NIE program ……………………………….……….. 24; title: Literacy: Where does it fit? ……………………………….……….. 25; title: School market targeting …………………..……………………..….. 28; title: New NIE professionals: Getting acquainted ……………………….. 30; title: There will be a quiz ……………………...………………,...……….. 31; title: NIE circulation ……………………………………………..……….. 36; title: NIE order form ………………………………………………...……. 38; title: The ABCs of ABC ………………………………………………….. 41; title: NIE sponsorships ……………………………………..…………….. 51; title: Accounting ……………………………………………...……………55; title: Budgeting …………………………………………...………………. 56; title: IV. Reaching out; title: Promoting NIE ………………………………………………………. 58; title: Internal PR: Tending the home fires …………….………………….. 72; title: Student tours …………………………………………………………. 73; title: Using an NIE advisory board ………………………………..………. 75; title: Developing curriculum materials ……………………………...…….. 77; title: NIE workshops ………………………………………...…………….. 85; title: NIE Week ……………………………………………………….…… 91; title: V. Special Times, special projects; title: Extra! Extra! …………………………………………………..…….. 95; title: Conducting and using research ………………………..……………. 101; title: Evaluating your NIE program …………………………...………….. 102; title: VI. Appendix; title: Resources ……………….…………………………………………… 108; title: _____________________________________________________________________