Photo by Dulce Marquez
J-Week
March 23-27, 2026
Show up for Student Journalism:
Tell City Hall that student journalism is essential. Sign our coalition letter urging our leaders to support citywide funding.
Let’s get together! Join our community event designed to sharpen your writing and advocacy skills. Open to all!
Open our toolkit or use the menu below to find a step-by-step guide on how to support J-Week in your community.
Add your Name
We’re sending this letter to City Hall. Our goal is to reach 1,000 signatures by Thursday, March 26!
Write-a-Thon
Wednesday, March 25 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Lower Manhattan
We’re getting together for a high-energy evening of writing, mentoring, and action. Whether you’re a student testing your reporting speed or an adult ready to support the next generation of reporters, everyone has a role!
Choose your activities, and mix-and-match throughout the evening:
Students– Compete in the Write-Off: Test your skills in our timed reporting competition. (First place in each category wins an Owala!)
Adults– Support the Writing Studio: Provide real-time mentoring, brainstorming, and editing support to youth reporters working on their pieces.
Everyone– Op-Ed & Letter-Writing: Jump into an Op-Ed Workshop to learn how to craft your story, or hit the Advocacy Station to write letters to City Council Members about why journalism education matters to you.
Start Organizing
Everyone has a part to play in getting journalism programs into every NYC high school. Whether you are a student, a reporter, or a community leader, we have a specific assignment for you.
Use the menu below to find your next steps:
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Add your name to our letter to City Hall.
Get 10-15 of your friends and family to sign the letter, too.
Attend the Write-a-Thon (make sure to RSVP!).
Put up flyers in your school.
Use our communications templates to:
Spread the word on social media.
Email your school community.
Share the sign-on letter via text.
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Use our communications templates and graphic templates to:
Spotlight student reporting
Share the sign-on letter.
Promote the Write-a-Thon event.
Repost YJC Instagram and LinkedIn posts spotlighting organizational partners and special J-Week op-eds throughout the week.
Challenge your students, alumni, and supporters to join the sign-on letter.
Want to co-host the Write-a-Thon? Contact Cait, cait@youthjournalismnyc.org.
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Add your name to our letter to City Hall.
Donate journalistic equipment to schools who need it.
Have any cameras, recorders, or other equipment not being put to use? NYC schools need them! Contact Sophie, sophie@youthjournalismnyc.org.
Use our communications templates to spread the word.
Attend the Write-a-Thon to mentor or support students.
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Feature student reporting on your platform.
Donate journalistic equipment to schools who need it.
Have any cameras, recorders, or other equipment not being put to use? NYC schools need them! Contact Sophie, sophie@youthjournalismnyc.org.
Cover a school visit during J-Week.
Interested? Email Sophie, sophie@youthjournalismnyc.org.
Use our communications templates to spread the word and spotlight student reporting.
Publish a student or teacher op-ed on the importance of journalism education.
Interested? Email Sophie, sophie@youthjournalismnyc.org
If your outlet covers the Speaker’s pre-stated press conferences: invite a student journalist to shadow you on Thursday, March 26, and collaborate on the story for your publication.
Interested? Email Sophie, sophie@youthjournalismnyc.org.
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(Offices of City Council Members; NYC DOE & Superintendents; Borough Presidents)
Visit a school journalism program in your borough. Contact CJ at cj@youthjournalismnyc.org to confirm.
Attend the Journalism for All budget briefing on Monday, March 23.
Use our communications templates to:
Spotlight student reporting.
Pledge your support for expanding access to journalism education.
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Spotlight youth journalists at your school in announcements and newsletters.
Use our communications templates to spread the word.
Use our sign-on letter as a learning tool in your journalism, civics, and government classes.
Share the podcast series Missing Voices with your school community.
Create a classroom lesson using our student listening guide.
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Use our communications templates to share why you support Journalism for All.
Visit a school journalism program. Contact CJ to confirm.
Share the toolkit with others in your network.
Reshare YJC Instagram and LinkedIn posts spotlighting organizational partners and special J-Week op-eds throughout the week.
If you’re not yet supporting Journalism for All, schedule time to chat with CJ to discuss how you can get involved.
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Add your name to our letter to City Hall.
Get 10-15 of your friends and family to sign the letter, too.
Use our communications templates to spread the word.
Donate journalistic equipment to schools who need it.
Have any cameras, recorders, or other equipment not being put to use? NYC schools need them! Contact Sophie, sophie@youthjournalismnyc.org.
Come to the YJC Write-a-Thon to support students and write to city leaders.
Share this toolkit with others in your network and community.