Student Journalism in China

Basic Education Development, Education, Media Development, Youth, Asia

The Student Journalism in China Program, launched in 2010, helps Chinese schools to establish viable and sustainable high school newspapers.

The program empowers youth as media producers and consumers, while promoting well-rounded development by fostering analytical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and a strong sense of responsibility.

Goals

• Empower student journalists to produce objective, ethical school newspapers with international standards

• Foster student body appreciation for objective newspapers while developing media literacy skills

• Build capacity of teachers to advise students and to actively engage them in the production of school newspapers

• Engage Chinese educators, school administrators, and the community throughout the program to support and sustain student journalism

Background

Research has shown that high school journalism has a positive effect on students’ academic and leadership skills. Students who participate in school journalism programs have higher grade-point averages, score better on college entrance exams, and demonstrate better writing and grammar skills in college compared with students who had no involvement with their school newspaper or yearbook.

Project Activities

Production of student newspapers: students are engaged in the entire process of newspaper production, from brainstorming of story ideas to the editing process and finally to the printing of the newspapers. Student journalists are able to analyze and explore how media messages are constructed, and the message’s explicit and implicit meanings.

Workshops for teachers: Teachers are trained in media education and interactive learning techniques, which are associated with improved critical thinking among students. Teachers incorporate student-centered classroom principles in advising student newspapers.

Engaging community within and surrounding the schools: School newspapers serve as a forum to share information and opinions on school events and issues, and promote greater interest in the community outside of the schools.