QUESTION: Resources for Middle School Journalism

[Rob Carey]

Due to budget cuts I'll be teaching Introduction to Journalism to grades 6-8 (mainly at-risk students) next year. I have never taught journalism before and would like to know if anyone can recommend a good resource for getting started. I usually like to create my own curriculum but need a "road map" to help me.  It seems that most of what I have found on the Web is high-school level---though I could modify it.

[Mike Gange]

The book  I use is Journalism Today, by Ferguson et al. While it is geared to HS you can adapt the lessons to your age group. You might do well to have them work on a variety of items, much like you might find in USA Today. That paper uses a lot of infographics, and putting one together takes research, interpretation, and an ability to translate it back for the readers. A class survey on school uniforms for example, could be translated into an infographic showing a person's torso wearing a shirt and tie for example. If the torso represents 100 % and your class responds 75 % against the idea, you can fill in up to the shoulders in color, then leave the head unshaded. It shows effort and ingenuity on the part of the students but still tells the story. By reading USA Today for a week, you should have a dozen ideas that could be interpreted by you as a class lesson.

Best wishes, MIke

[DandoCalrissian]

I was a middle school/high school journalism educator for a good while and here are some things that really helped me get the ball rolling. I really didn't have to alter them too much to fit middle schoolers:

Junior High Journalism - http://www.amazon.com/Junior-High-Journalism-Homer-Hall/dp/08239392...

School Newspaper Adviser's Survival Guide - http://www.amazon.com/School-Newspaper-Advisers-Survival-Guide/dp/0...

Inside Reporting http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Reporting-Tim-Harrower/dp/0073378917/r...

Newspaper Designer's Handbook: http://www.amazon.com/Newspaper-Designers-Handbook-Tim-Harrower/dp/...

Also, get involved with the ASNE (American Society of Newspaper Editors - http://www.hsj.org/Teachers/index.cfm?menu_id=6) and the JEA (Journalism Educator Association). They have lots of great resources and support. Also, if you're school is really facing budgetary concerns the ASNE provides a fully supported web-based paper for a one-time fee of $50 bucks. Many of my colleagues.

Also, take a gander at what other folks are doing: My two favorite papers (high school, yes but still doable)

Kirkwood Call - http://www.thekirkwoodcall.com/
The Stagg Line - http://myhsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/newspap...

Hope this helps and break a leg.

[Rob Carey]

Thank you all for the great information and resources---seems like a perfect time to teach journalism, especially with the 2012 election looming. Much appreciated.