COLUMBIA, Missouri — The Youth Journalism Initiative of the American Society of News Editors will continue its national effort to inspire youth in the ever-changing world of journalism by training 140 secondary-school teachers at the 2014 Reynolds High School Journalism Institute. The Institute provides comprehensive journalism training and hands-on experience.

Through the Reynolds High School Journalism Institute, teachers learn how to help students:

• differentiate between fact, opinion and infotainment; understand bias, balance and fairness in news coverage by developing news literacy skills; and appreciate the importance of credible and verifiable news sources.
• gain stronger reporting, writing, editing, multimedia, design and entrepreneurial skills needed to start or improve student news media organizations.
• understand the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment and their rights and ethical responsibilities as student journalists.

Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 2,000 high school teachers have completed the two-week program. The 2014 Institute will bring together teachers for training at the following locations:

• Arizona State University, June 15-27
• Kent State University, July 6-18
• University of Missouri-Columbia, July 13-25
• University of Texas at Austin, July 13-25

The Institute is funded through a generous grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, which covers all travel, housing and instructional expenses for the teachers, as well as optional graduate or continuing education credit. The teachers will also receive paid membership to the Journalism Education Association and their state or regional scholastic press association.

The ASNE Youth Journalism Initiative, launched in 2000, provides journalism-related training and resources for teachers and students across the curriculum. These resources are available to all educators and the public at SchoolJournalism.org.

The American Society of News Editors focuses on leadership development and journalism-related issues. 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, youth journalism and the sharing of ideas are also key ASNE initiatives.

The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded in 1954 by the late media entrepreneur for whom it is named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, it has committed more than $150 million to journalism initiatives nationally.

For more information, contact:
Megan Schumacher
Senior Information Specialist, Youth Journalism Initiative
American Society of News Editors
210 Reynolds Journalism Institute
Columbia, MO 65211
Office: 573-882-3792
Email: [email protected]