New York City is the media capital of the world, home to global broadcast conglomerates, five major daily papers, and 116 neighborhood media outlets. But when it comes to student publications, the city is something of a news desert. Only 26% of New York City public high schools have a student news publication, and just 7% of schools with the highest poverty rates do. Of schools with the highest percentage of Black students, only 8% have publications. We have seen this tale of two cities firsthand, navigating the unequal terrain toward careers in journalism and sparking a movement to revitalize student media.
From anger to activism – Derry Oliver, Cobble Hill High School
Growing up, I was told I’d make a great journalist. Yet I was never told where to start, or when. I’ve never gone to a school with a student publication, but found ways to compensate. I carried around a unicorn notebook with nearly 40 questions for every career day volunteer. I was told: “Derry, we love the questions, but we have to move on”, “Derry, you don’t ask someone questions about their personal life.”
Every time I’d hear the word “journalism,” my ears perked up. I stayed up late looking for paid internships a twelve-year-old could do, researching Fordham University’s journalism school, and, of course, trying to find high schools with journalism programs. But I ran into the harsh reality that most high schools don’t have these kinds of programs. Still, I was determined. I researched opportunities at Vogue and Teen Vogue, watched vlogs from interns, and tried to find local journalism programs in New York. “The School of The New York Times!” sounded like a sweet deal until I found out it cost $5,935. I closed my laptop and cried myself to sleep.
It is enraging to know what I want to do, but to not have the pathways to pursue it because of my financial circumstances and where I go to school. So I have turned my anger into activism by helping lead the NYC Youth Journalism Coalition.
This spring, we’ve built partnerships with City Council members, most recently leading a day of action at City Hall with the Council’s Black, Latino & Asian Caucus. We’ve worked with Council Member Rita Joseph, who leads the Education Committee, to introduce a resolution calling on the Department of Education to provide support for a student publication at every high school. We’ve raised over $200,000 to build a new, world-class curriculum with the CUNY Newmark Journalism School. And we’re just getting started.
Ever since, I’ve said to myself: “Little Derry would’ve been proud of me.”
Shaping the school community — Liza Greenberg, Bronx Science
Being a student journalist is central to my identity and has been for nearly half of my life.
In fifth grade, I launched a newspaper at my public middle school, The Center School Gazette. We published articles about the gubernatorial election, features on pizza places nearby, interviews with beloved teachers, and contests for candy prizes. At first we published on stapled printer paper. During the pandemic, with all the extra time on my hands, I had the chance to learn to do a real layout online. Along the way, we had plenty of arguments, lots of typos, and some pretty repetitive movie reviews. But over four years, we grew to a staff of 40 writers and published over 30 issues.
The opportunity to work on that paper allowed me to explore an entirely new world of student journalism and to engage with my school community. My middle school years laid the foundation, offering insight into what sources journalists rely on and how reporting is vetted for accuracy. Journalism teaches students that all subjects, including the causes they rally for, are nuanced and that a variety of information and evidence should support any stance they take.
In sixth grade, I wrote a series on vaping after it became popular at my school. The articles helped prompt the school to get serious about prohibiting it. I learned how to handle topics delicately and fairly without unjustly exposing students. Student journalism is a vehicle for students, who typically lack any influence over how their schools are run, to make change.
I knew journalism was a path I wanted to pursue. At Bronx Science, a school with a bounty of extracurriculars, I am a managing editor of our paper, The Science Survey, which has been a highlight of my high school experience. Our paper has a staff of 90 students, a daily journalism class, and over 350,000 annual readers. I have had the opportunity to study and discuss the work of famous reporters, fine-tune pieces, and receive editing from peers and our journalism advisor.
Our vision for the future
The NYC Youth Journalism Coalition is a student-led response to this tale of two cities, and Journalism for All is our citywide plan to increase the number of programs and propel more students from underrepresented backgrounds into journalism careers. At a time when young people are less trusting of mainstream media, it's critical that our generation has the tools to both create and consume high quality media.
Journalism for All has three pillars — a world-class high school curriculum and teacher training, public-private funding from City Council members and foundations, and implementation support from local nonprofits and newsrooms. Inequity in access to youth journalism is not just a New York City issue, and Journalism for All is not just a New York City initiative. The combination of low-cost curriculum, public-private funding, and implementation support can work in cities large and small across the country. The time for action is now.
Derry Oliver is a 17 year old student at Cobble Hill High School. She is a Student Leader of the Youth Journalism Coalition.
-Liza Greenburg is a 17 year old high school student at Bronx Science. She is a Student Leader at the Youth Journalism Coalition.
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