#JournalismIs is sponsored by:

Department of Journalism and Mass Communication

South Dakota State University
Mary Arnold, Department Head
mary.arnold@sdstate.edu
South Dakota High School Press Association
Jessica J. Jensen, Director
jessica.jensen@sdstate.edu
South Dakota Newspaper Association
Dave Bordewyk, General Manager
daveb@sdna.com

North Dakota Newspaper Association Education

Foundation
Steve Andrist, Executive Director
stevea@ndna.com
South Dakota High School Activities Association
James Weaver, Assistant Executive Director
james.weaver@sdhsaa.com
Black Hills State University
Mass Communication Department
Mary Caton-Rosser
mary.catonrosser@bhsu.edu

I became a
journalist to
come as close
as possible to
the heart of
the world.
Henry Luce

North Dakota
Newspaper
Association

#JournalismIs

#JournalismIs
Lets get started!
CONGRATULATIONS on receiving your #JournalismIs packet!
This packet is designed to help journalism teachers and advisers get
started building a new high school journalism program or refresh and
update existing ones.
Our goal is to present information in a turnkey approach - one that
contains the basics and is ready for use right away with no additions or
modifications needed. In this box, you will find:
1 Basic journalism curriculum materials to use in designing and
implementing your program whether it is a class or extracurricular.
2 Recruiting materials to share with students, parents and school
administers who can help you build your program.
3 Networking information for getting in touch with other instructors and
advisers who will share ideas and answer your questions .
4 For those of you who requested one, a Journalism Education
Association (JEA) annual membership that provides access to the JEA
website materials, bookstore, curriculum information and more!

First, lets look at

books in the box:
Principals Guide to
Scholastic Journalism helps
administrators work with
students, parents, teachers,
and community members.
New administrators will
especially find the guide
helpful in developing, maintaining, and supporting your high school
journalism program.
Beginning Journalism Curriculum Guide shows variety of ways to
build a curriculum to suit your needs and those of your school. It
curricular timeframes, sample lesson plans, a partial list of the most
popular high school journalism textbooks and a wealth of other
resources.
The Radical Write helps you guide your students to writing that is
lively, interesting, and readable. It includes information on audiences,
reporting, unique angles, interviewing, and using dates in your
stories. This book is favorite among high school teachers because of
the authors conversational tone.
The Quill and Scroll Stylebook is based on common practices used
in teaching high school journalism. Student staffs need a style guide
for consistency and clarity. It is adapted from the Associated Press
Styleguide and contains useful information about abbreviations,
capitalizations, figures, numbers and other guides to help students
with journalistic writing.
The Newspaper Staff Manual serves as a model for high school
staffs to follow as they create their own manuals. It includes grading
policies, job descriptions for staff members and their duties, the role
of the adviser and more.
Photojournalism Curriculum Guide provides a framework for
teaching students about photography. It provides information and
rubrics for grading, lessons plans, a course syllabus, quizzes and stepby-step instructions.

So ... what are you

waiting for?
Its as easy as ...

READ. SHARE. DESIGN. RECRUIT.

Follow these
steps to get
started:
1 READ the
guides other
materials
included in
the packet to
become familiar
with journalism
practice and
terminology
for both teachers and advisers. Review the JEA information
included, which will give you access to online material,
curriculum information and discounts for conventions.
2 SHARE with the appropriate people:
Your principal - Each principal
is different and will have different
expectations. Review this text and
find out what you need to do to
work with your schools principal
to benefit your publication the best
way possible. Share it with your
principal and meet to discuss your
expectations.

Your printer - Talk to the printer of your publication regarding

the specifications for your publication, as well as what the printer
expects from you. These two dont always match so discussing
elements of your printing process will build a relationship that will
ensure successful printing of your publication.

3 DESIGN a curriculum:
A program that includes writing, photography, design, a staff
handbook and a stylebook. Each of these areas is presented in a
separate book included in your packet. Become familiar with each,
and design of program incorporating what you have learned. Find
the areas that are best suited to your own students. Good design
will help your students excel in each of the program areas.

4 RECRUIT students, parents and the general public
The team at #JournalismIs has designed posters, advertisements
and an information sheet to help each of these groups understand
what todays journalism means and how it can helps students be
successful. This information includes newspaper advertisements,
printed posters for your school, and information for administrators
and parents specifically relating to the benefits of students being
involved in journalism.

Now go get started!

Why did you

receive the
Getting Started
Kit?

High School Journalism for the digital age

In the wake of the digital explosion, high school Journalism has been left in
the analog world. This disconnect causes confusion and a misperception
about what it means to be a high school journalist; what skills are needed,
what tools are used, and what impact can be made in an environment already
saturated with information. #JournalismIs is a program designed to help
redefine high school journalism for the digital age.
Many students think of Journalism as strictly ink-on-paper. Although this is an
important facet, it doesnt define digital journalism. Digital journalism is about
delivering information to an audience, wherever they are, whomever they are.
It is getting information and creating a story; personalizing it in a way that
makes people want to read it, sharing it, Tweeting it and responding to it.
#JournalismIs, including journalism organizations in North and South Dakota,
are working together to give advisers and instructors valuable materials
to help them get started telling stories that can be shared in newspapers,
yearbooks, photography, video, radio, television, online and on social media.

You got it because you

received a high school
journalism grant from
either the North Dakota
Newspaper Association
or the South Dakota
Newspaper Association.
Schools were selected and grants awarded based on the
needs specified in their grant applications. For instance, JEA
memberships were
awarded only to
schools requesting one
in their application.
Thank you to all
involved in this very
special project to
ensure the future
of journalism in
secondary schools.

Dont miss another chance to network with other advisers and

teachers and gain a wealth of information about todays journalism by
participating in the Online Adviser Workshop held online September
12-14, 2014.
Kathy Craghead, 2003 JEA Yearbook Adviser of the Year, will teach this
class designed for new and seasoned advisers. For more information
contact the SDHSPA at www.sdhspa.com or 605-688-6515 or email
jessica.jensen@sdstate.edu.

#JournalismIs