The Resurgence of the High School Newspaper

For the duration of the 20th century, just about every high school had a school newspaper. Being the school’s newspaper editor as a senior was a coveted position – one that carried with it quite a bit of responsibility and the matching amount of respect among one’s peers. Being a member of the newspaper staff came with prestige for the student and an understanding that the student was intelligent, articulate and a good writer.

Serving in this role always got a mention on a resumé from that point forward.

The only significant change over those many years involved how the paper was produced going from typewritten pages to rudimentary linotype to computer-generated pieces that included graphics and even photographs, duplicated on presses, mimeograph machines and then copiers. While those advances did change how the information appeared in the newspaper and possibly increased how often the paper was published, it remained a printed medium using paper in some shape or size.

That all changed as the Internet became our primary source for information. School newspapers, like their city, town, community and state colleagues, began to fade away, unable to compete with the convenience, speed and flexibility of web-based media. Getting information about an event or activity, an incident or concern no longer required people to pick up the latest copy of the newspaper. All that “news” arrived on laptops, phones or tablets, sometimes without any request being made and often within minutes of the information being made available. Why would anyone want a newspaper?

But like their local brethren, high school newspapers survived by adapting and adopting the technology that threatened their existence. While some still print to paper, a media significantly enhanced by computers and the ease with which information can be entered and supported with color, graphics and images, many now have a totally online presence.

Taking what is best about a newspaper, such as news gathering, in-depth reporting, series articles and calendar listings, schools across the country are creating the electronic equivalent, complete with banners, indexes, column formatting and a regular publication schedule. And like the school yearbook, these efforts are created by students for students, under the watchful eye of experienced journalism, English and media teachers.

Targeted by the newspaper staff for their peers, the online version of high school newspapers are now more powerful than ever in supporting the collective efforts of the school community, giving notice of accomplishments by members of the student body, and bringing attention and focus to issues of concern. And to match this growth and interest, there are multiple software platforms that assist those staff members in making their work viable, visible and accessible such as MakeMyNewspaper, NewspaperManager and SNOSites. Coupled with the broad spectrum of graphic and text software programs available, from Word and WordPress to Adobe Illustrator and Canva, online student newspapers can be powerful learning tools for both the staff and their readership.

This resurgence in high school newspapers has allowed students to find new ways to express their views, concerns and values, while learning important lessons in journalism, management, leadership and collaboration. Supported by several national organizations such as the National Scholastic Press Association and others, these student-created media rival their for-profit counterparts in quality of writing, use of graphics and importance to their readers.

Check out the award-winning high school newspapers that you can easily find online to see what is being done. If your school does not have one, consider starting a school newspaper soon.