High School Collaboration

Advisers Can Assist High School J-Programs

Strong high school journalism programs and equally strong scholastic media form a strong foundation for students to learn about journalistic practices and ethics, to recognize the role of a free press in a democratic society and to be ready to work for collegiate media operations.

DOWNLOAD RELATED DOCUMENTS: High School Collaboration and AEJMC Statement on Collaboration

Scholastic journalism is facing significant challenges across the country. The number of high school newspapers has declined. Attempts to publish online media are being restricted. Content is being censored. Advisers’ jobs are on the line for allowing students to determine what is printed or posted online. Principals are clearly being more aggressive in trying to control student media.

Recognizing the importance of providing support and encouragement for high school journalism programs and student media, the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication’s Secondary Education Committee has developed two documents that should be of interest to college media advisers.

The first, a statement on “The Value of Scholastic Media,” was developed for use by those who care about student media. It speaks to the fact that scholastic media are “invaluable to students as they become better writers and thinkers and to the community as these students learn to value democracy and civic engagement.”

The second, a document containing “Proposed Models of Workshops for High School Journalism Advisers/Teachers,” includes content and a timetable for one, two and multi-day workshops that can be conducted for high school advisers by college media advisers and their journalism school colleagues during the year or in the summer. This way the interaction with high schools “allows for spotlighting key aspects of the college program while improving the quality of the secondary programs.” This can be a great recruiting tool for college media and a great partnership with area high school advisers.

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I would like to encourage my CMA colleagues to make the effort to reach out to area high school advisers and try to implement some of these ideas. It will benefit everyone.

Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver
Dean and Professor
Schoolof Journalismand Mass Communication
Florida International University
Chair, ASJMC Secondary Education Committee

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