The American Society of News Editors announced today the legacy of its 15-year Youth Journalism Initiative will be carried forward by the Missouri Interscholastic Press Association located at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, Missouri. As of July 1, MIPA plans to continue operating the Youth Journalism Initiative including its SchoolJournalism.org website with training modules and secondary school lesson plans, as well as, SchoolJournalism.org Updates, the weekly e-newsletter sent to more than 10,000 national and international subscribers.

“We are pleased to have been part of this collaborative effort to educate the next generation of journalists and citizens about why news matters,” said Teri Hayt, executive director of ASNE.

Since 2000, ASNE committed significant resources to teach young journalists, increase student media programs and improve First Amendment awareness. Highlights of ASNE’s youth journalism endeavor include:

• More than 2,800 teachers trained at its High School Journalism Institute
• More than 3.6 million visitors to ASNE’s journalism education website
• More than 3,900 student multimedia news websites launched
• More than 300 schools provided with equipment and mentoring

“MIPA is incredibly honored to step up to manage and, in the future, expand the offerings of the Youth Journalism Initiative,” MIPA President Christina Geabhart said. “Since 1923, our organization has been a supporter of student journalism and free speech. Our board members are excited to have yet another tool to help students and educators in today’s society.”

During the last 15 years, the multi-faceted ASNE Youth Journalism Initiative educated thousands of secondary students and teachers and continues to provide valuable online training and resources through its website SchoolJournalism.org to more than 25,000 monthly visitors and through its weekly e-newsletter

“We owe a great debt to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation for their generous support of the ASNE Youth Journalism Initiative,” said Hayt.

Knight Foundation provided the initial funding that established the ASNE Youth Journalism Initiative as a leader in scholastic journalism education and helped launch student multimedia news websites. Knight funding also initiated the ASNE High School Journalism Institute and provided schools with media equipment through the Partnership Program.

The Reynolds Foundation later funded the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute and for nearly a decade helped teachers gain skills needed to start or improve student news media organizations. Through the years, the High School Journalism Institute collaborated with the following universities: Arizona State, Ball State, California-Berkeley, South Florida, Hampton, Kent State, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada-Reno, Texas at Austin and Winthrop.

In 2014, the McCormick Foundation funded development of news literacy lesson plans in collaboration with ASNE and the Journalism Education Association. Educators affiliated with the American Bar Association Division of Public Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Science Teachers Association and the National Council of Teachers of English worked on the project. These model lessons show teachers how to integrate news literacy instruction into social studies, math, science and English classes.

Most recently, ASNE collaborated with the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty to leave a lasting legacy of online journalism training by developing instructional modules, interactive quizzes and supplementary resources.

“The resources on the website and in the weekly newsletters are invaluable. MIPA will support these exceptional materials for student journalists and their instructors across the country,” Geabhart said.

“It has been a privilege to work with so many gifted educators and students,” said Hayt. “We are especially pleased to leave this legacy in the hands of the dedicated and enthusiastic MIPA members.”

The American Society of News Editors centers on leadership development and journalism-related subjects. Founded in 1922 as a nonprofit professional organization, ASNE promotes fair, principled journalism; defends and protects First Amendment rights; and fights for freedom of information and open government. Leadership, innovation, diversity and inclusion in coverage and the journalism work force and the sharing of ideas are also key ASNE initiatives.

The Missouri Interscholastic Press Association is the official state organization recognized by the Journalism Education Association. Since 1923, MIPA has served journalism teachers and advisers to foster and encourage strong journalism programs within Missouri.