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NYC students push for broader expansion of journalism programs at their schools
By
Jessica Gould
Published Sep 17, 2025
Modified Sep 17, 2025
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Jessica Gould
By
Jessica Gould
Published Sep 17, 2025
Modified Sep 17, 2025
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A coalition of student journalists is calling on officials to expand news literacy and youth press opportunities after new data revealed just over 1% of high school students have access to journalism courses at their schools.
According to the new education department report for the 2024-25 school year, more than 3,200 students had access to journalism courses at their schools, out of 265,000 high school students — a sum that, while tiny, marks an increase over previous years.
The Youth Journalism Coalition launched its Journalism for All campaign more than a year ago, prompting the City Council to pass legislation requiring new public data on access to related coursework and student newspapers. Students on Tuesday rallied on the steps of City Hall to push for universal access to journalism courses and student publications at their schools.
This fall, 30 new journalism courses launched at city schools, part of an initiative funded by The Revson Foundation and multiple city councilmembers. CUNY's Craig Newmark School of Journalism is a partner of the program.
Autumn Wynn, a senior at Park Slope Collegiate High School in Brooklyn, said she’s been thrilled to participate in her school's new journalism elective this semester, which has introduced her to a possible career path.
“ Journalism isn't only hunching over a desk and writing. Journalism is interviewing, understanding the community, and so much more,” she said. “With this elective going into 30 schools and hopefully more in the future, I hope it inspires another talkative and opinionated Black girl as much as it has inspired me.”
City Councilmember Rita Joseph, who chairs the Council’s education committee, told those gathered she was inspired by students’ advocacy to introduce the bill requiring student journalism data and invest discretionary funding in the new courses.
“ Your voices made this possible,” she said. “You show us that young people don't just deserve a seat at the table. You deserve a notebook. A byline and the platform to tell your own stories.”
Officials for the education department attended the rally and said the department is enthusiastic about the expansion.
A 2022 study by Baruch College found that three quarters of the city’s public high schools did not have newspapers, and those that had them served more affluent, whiter communities. Since then, the Youth Journalism Coalition has been working with partner organizations to fill those gaps.
“We're not done until every public school student has access to journalism education,” said Julius Marinov, 16, a junior at the High School for Environmental Studies.
This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of the Youth Journalism Coalition. It has also been updated to reflect that the CUNY's Craig Newmark School of Journalism is a partner of the Journalism for All initiative.
Tagged
City Council
education
new york city
Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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