The Inkling: December 2024 Issue

🧣 December 2024

Hi Subscriber First Name!

Keep reading for news from the NYC Youth Journalism Coalition, including the newly announced Journalism for All cohort, a spotlight on this month’s advocacy, and upcoming student opportunities!

🗞️ Announcing the Journalism for All Cohort!

Thirty public high schools across all five boroughs have been chosen as the inaugural cohort of Journalism for All! These schools are now part of our citywide effort to revitalize journalism education in NYC public schools.

The application process was rigorous, with teachers, principals, and students demonstrating remarkable commitment to building journalism programs in their schools. The selected cohort reflects the diversity of our city’s schools and our commitment to equity: On average, about 84% of students in these schools face economic hardship, and six schools report 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.

A big shout-out to the selection committee for their diligent application reviews, the J4A Working Group for preparing to welcome the cohort, and all the schools that expressed interest in the program.

Check out the full list of schools on our website!

🏛️ YJC Testified at City Council!

Earlier this month, the City Council's Education Committee held a public hearing on a bill aimed at increasing transparency around the equity gap in journalism programs at NYC public high schools. Five of our incredible YJC students testified at the hearing, check it out!

Our students spoke candidly about the transformative opportunities journalism has offered them—helping them grow as students, storytellers, and leaders. They also shed light on the racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to these programs, and underscored how this legislation is a step toward addressing these inequities and ensuring that Journalism for All reaches its full potential.

A big shout-out to the Legislative/Press Working Group for coordinating and preparing our students!

🥙 Celebrating at our December Potluck!

It was so special to come together in person for our potluck earlier this month! A big thank you to everyone who joined us!

💡 Featured Student Opportunities

CSPA Student Essay Competition
Deadline: Sunday, January 5
As part of its Centennial celebration, Columbia Scholastic Press Association is inviting high school seniors to participate in an essay competition for three scholarship awards.

Entrants will write a 750-word essay responding to the prompt, “How has working on a student publication contributed to your personal development and success?”

NY Jewish Week Teen Journalism Fellowship
Deadline: Friday, January 10
This is an opportunity for Jewish, NYC-based 15-18 year olds to report on news, events and culture in their community through a Jewish teen lens. Stories can include anything from teens learning Yiddish at the Cloisters to a teen production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Coney Island.

AAJA’s JCAMP
Deadline: Friday, January 31

AAJA’s JCamp is a national multicultural journalism program for high school students. The six-day training camp brings together culturally diverse students from across the nation to learn from veteran journalists and leading media executives. JCamp participants will receive hands-on training and produce multiplatform news packages for the program’s news site, JCamp Live.

High school students with a strong interest in all forms of journalism are encouraged to apply. All costs to attend this program, including airfare, campus housing and meals, are covered by AAJA.

Submit a question to the Teen Advice Podcast
Arcana Audio and the documentary film company Lismore Road are piloting a new advice podcast for teenagers. They are looking for teens to submit questions to be discussed in pilot episodes!

🔦 Spotlight on Student Reporting

Students and parents on the future of high school admissions
Miseducation interns Kelsi, Katelyn, and Bernie join parent advocates to share their experiences navigating NYC’s high school admissions process—shedding light on its role in maintaining the nation’s most segregated school system—and discuss what needs to change for a more equitable future.

BDC Focus: December 2024 Issue
The Bronx Documentary Center Youth Photo League's December issue of their student newspaper focuses on election-related stories, covering both pre- and post-election events.

Help us spread the news. Forward this email to a friend!
They can sign up for upcoming Inklings here.