good topics to write about for a school newspaper

The ultimate guide for your school newspaper

Schools newspapers are a great way to inform and entertain highschool and college communities, but they are often not taken seriously. Perhaps the reason for that is the fact that some school newspapers are indeed amateurish. But they shouldn’t be. With the right team and with the right tools, it’s possible to produce a highly professional school paper.

It can be a daunting task, at first. There are so many things that you need to do, from team management and training to article writing , photojournalism, design, production and online student publishing. You might need a little help. We are here to provide that. This article is named “the ultimate guide for your school newspaper” because we have covered all the aspects of producing a student newspaper and managing the editorial team.

We simply want you to be a little less stressed, while producing a quality student paper.

This article is for everybody who is involved in the newspaper production, regardless of the role. You’ll find some valuable tips for running and contributing to your school newspaper.

Here’s a quick overview:

Staff management for school newspapers

Types of articles, news writing, newspaper design, school newspaper templates.

• Online student publishing and production  

Organizing a newspaper dream team (even if you’re not an expert)

Let’s talk about the structure of the student newspaper team. What roles must be present in your team? How should you structure it? How many people should be part of the team?

There are many different ways to organize the staff, but you’ll likely end up with a team that is more or less similar to traditional newspaper team structure, with the addition of the faculty advisor.

Let’s take a look at the typical roles in a newspaper team:

• Faculty advisor – gives the final approval to the school paper, is responsible for reading all articles and notifying the staff if a piece is not yet ready for press or if it doesn’t meet the newspaper’s standards
• Reporters (news, sports, photo, opinion, tech) – responsible for staying up to date with the latest and upcoming events happening in school. They should also stay informed on politics, sports, technology or culture according to the department they are in
• Editor / Department editors – editors plan and cover articles, proofread and edit reporter submissions. Department editors are responsible for all the articles that belong in their section and they work closely with the editors and reporters that are in their sections. They should be more experienced than editors, so the department editor role shouldn’t be assigned to a junior student
• Designers + Art director – The design/ art team is in charge of the visual aspect of the newspaper, including layouts, illustrations and everything that is related with the visual aspects. The art director oversees the entire design process, so he works closely with the designers
• Photo reporters + photo editor – in smaller teams the role of the photo editor is not necessarily required, because his responsibilities can be covered by the art director
• Production manager – responsible of setting the production schedule and making sure the all departments are meeting deadlines for copy, design, editing, proofreading and so on. He communicates directly with the printing house and with the technical department
• Technical staff – the technical department publishes the newspaper on the website. The online version of your newspaper can be an identical copy of the printed one, or you can decide to publish the articles on your website in a different format
• Business / Advertising – if you run ads in your school paper, you will need someone to mediate your relationship with advertisers and establish new business connections to grow the advertiser network

If there’s currently no structure in place or you have a very small team, you can start small. Baby steps.

You don’t necessarily need an entire department to cover a role. Sometimes a single student is enough, especially if your school newspaper isn’t long (eg. hire just one designer instead of an entire team + art director). You can also have students take on multiple roles (eg: a student can be both editor and production manager). In some cases the faculty advisor becomes so involved in the production that he acts as a production manager.

Make sure each one of these roles is covered, and start from there. As your team grows you will need more structure and clearly defined roles.

Write clear job descriptions for each role

This way each student will understand his place and purpose in the team, will know exactly who he has to report to, what is expected, duties and responsibilities.

Even though job descriptions are not a standard practice in school newsrooms, writing them will be very rewarding. Yes, it will take some time, but it will not be wasted time, for sure. These job descriptions will help students perform better, and it will make the manager’s role so much easier.

Hiring for school newspapers

Some colleges offer paid positions for the newspaper staff, but most high schools and colleges do not. However, there should still be a “hiring” or selection process in place.

Many students are interested in becoming involved in the production of the school newspaper, for various reasons: it’s fun, it’s a great learning experience, it looks good on college or job applications. That’s what it’s like to work on a college newspaper!

These are all valid reasons to join the school newspaper crew, but not everybody gets to be a part of it, if there are too many people interested in a position.

The best way to figure out if a student is a great candidate for a job is by interviewing him. These interviews usually take place in the first months of the first semester. After you finish all the interviews select the best candidates and let them know they’ve been selected.

When you’re a part of a student newspaper team, you know that you’ll be there for limited amount of time. The team will change every single year: the most experienced student journalists will graduate and leave the school, and a new of inexperienced juniors will need onboarding. This is why training and onboarding is a never ending process in the school newsroom. It’s a fact of life, and it’s definitely a challenge, but it can be dealt with.

Encourage the more experienced team members to train and coach the new hires. But oftentime, that won’t be enough, because not everyone is willing to take on this responsibility. Sometimes, they might need a little push. You might need to assign a trainer for each new person that joins the team.

You can also invest time in creating a coaching manual for trainers and guideline manuals for trainees. It will simplify the onboarding process and reduce the hours spent coaching new colleagues.

Ground rules

College newspapers function under the protection of the First Amendment, so students can truly express themselves and their opinions, even when their views are contradictory to those of the school. Yet, that doesn’t mean that the school has no control whatsoever over what gets to be published. The faculty advisor has the legal right to impose certain rules and standards, if the purpose is educating students.

If the faculty advisor isn’t happy with the quality of an article he may suggest edits or reject it altogether. This doesn’t mean that he’s censoring free speech.

There should also be some ground rules regarding copyrights, plagiarism, subjectivism and other sensitive issues such as violence and profanity.

School newspapers and regular newspapers are structured in a similar manner, even though the topics are tailored to the audience. If you need some ideas for articles, take a look at the article types below. It will help you get organized and produce a well rounded newspaper.

School news

News articles should cover various events, policies and other school news that are interesting for students. These news don’t have to be limited to your high school or college. You can write about national and even worldwide news, but only if they provide useful information.

For example, a worldwide student art competition could be the subject of a newspaper article. National laws and legislation regarding schools and education should also be covered in news articles, because they concern all students and will impact their lives. School news should be presented in an objective manner, presenting facts, not rumors or assumptions. They should be based on research and present different points of views.

Feature story

(over 1000 words) Each newspaper edition is likely to have a feature story. It’s the longest article in the paper, and the most in-depth. Feature stories revolve around facts, but they take a story to the next level by presenting context, quotes, reasons why it happened, ramifications of the story and implications. The article shouldn’t involve personal bias. It should be based on an elaborate investigation made by the journalist, interviewing multiple accounts. However, the feature isn’t limited to facts, it gives the journalist a little room for interpretation and embedding his opinion in the piece, in a subtle way.

The topic varies. It could be some big news, an in-depth analysis of a social school phenomenon, a new policy or something else.

(under 500 words)

Unlike the previous 2 types of articles, the editorial is an opinion piece. Still, the writer shouldn’t express his own views, but the opinion of the entire editorial staff.

For that reason, the editorial is usually not signed. It’s a piece of commentary that appears to be written by an entire team. That’s why the writer/ editor shouldn’t talk about himself using the singular form of the first person: I, me, myself.

The editorial should be entertaining or argumentative. In order to achieve that you can start by making a claim that could be controversial, then proceed by explaining your reasons and clarifying your claim. This flow will keep readers engaged. Some of them will agree with your point of view. Others won’t, but that’s alright. The purpose is to challenge readers.

Topics: school rules, policies, teaching methods, advice, announcements, school news

Just like editorials, columns are opinion-based articles. The content and topics are very much like an editorial. But the main difference between an editorial piece and a column is the signature. The editorial goes unsigned because it represents the collective views of editorial staff, but the columnist will publish his piece under his name. That’s why columnists can write about their opinions using the singular form of the first person. Sometimes an editor will publish a series of articles on the same topic/ similar topics, through several issues.

All of the big newspapers publish reviews because they help the general public make decisions. There’s no reason why school newspaper shouldn’t publish review articles on various topics: school textbooks, movies, books, or even classes.

Start by writing a short description of the thing that you are reviewing. Then add details about your personal experience. Include details about pros, cons, value for the money, performance mentions of other reviews, comparison to similar products. Try to be as objective and unbiased as possible.

Don’t forget to write a conclusion in which you summarize the review and give a verdict: whether you would recommend the product or not.

Promotional pieces

Companies pay money to have advertorials inserted in newspapers. The school context is different, but you will still need to include some promotional articles every once in a while. It may be for the school’s art or sports club, for a conference organized by the school or for a different event.

Your article should offer useful details about the event/ club that is promoted and it should also present the benefits it offers for students in order to encourage them to participate / join a program / buy a ticket.

Educational articles

This category includes tutorials and how-to articles with useful tips. Topics vary, but they should be school related, at least slightly. Here are a few examples: how to deal with stress, mnemonic learning techniques, tips for integrated digital learning, utilizing school resources, etc. These types of articles will help students deal with certain issues that almost everybody encounters.

If you have a talented illustrator in your crew, you should make the most of his skills. Assign a space in your newspaper’s layout specifically for the cartoon. The topic should be something school related, something that students can relate to. The cartoon will put a smile on the reader’s face.

Producing a professional school newspaper requires many skills and great teamwork. But building a team of talented journalists takes time and training. If you’re working with inexperienced student reporters and editors, you should start by teaching them the most basic news writings principles. Every journalist should know these.

The inverted pyramid style

The inverted pyramid refers to a very specific structure of a news article, which places the most important information at the beginning of the story. The information that is less vital to the reader’s understanding comes later in the story. This is how you should present school news.

The first paragraph which contains the most important details is “the lead”. The lead contains a very short and concise summary of the story. They should make sure that the first paragraph provides answers to the “5 Ws”:

Continue with a few paragraphs that contain other important details of the story.

Writers should also integrate relevant quotes from their interviews with witnesses, sources or other people involved in the event. The next paragraphs should include other general or background information.

Students decide what articles interest them from the school newspaper by simply scanning the newspaper and reading headlines. Every great writer understands the importance of a good, attention-grabbing headline, and young journalists should know it too.

A well written headline is acts as a hook that makes readers want to read the entire piece. There are different types of headlines: humourous, mysterious, informative. The headline’s style should match the article. There are many other things to consider, but you can start by reading these tips for writing great headlines .

There’s a lot of work that goes into an article. Sometimes the journalist has to gather all the information himself. In other cases, it involves interviewing witnesses or experts. There’s also that scenario in which the student will do research and find useful information in books, websites or other publications.

Regardless of how you collect data, you should always cite your source. It will add credibility to your story. It goes without saying that all journalists, including students, should check the reliability of their sources. Don’t just pick up information from dubious online sites.

In some cases your sources will ask you to protect their identity. It will probably not happen very often in the school context, but if they do, you must respect their wish.

Editing and proofreading

Make sure that the most experienced editors are reviewing and editing every article before publication. Obviously, the writer should be the first person to edit and check for spelling & grammar mistakes. But that’s not enough, not if you have high standards for your school’s paper (which… you should).

Submit each piece for peer review. The reviewer should analyze grammar, spelling, tone and voice, as well as other standards imposed by the production manager. Encourage students to provide useful, objective feedback. Don’t get offended if they make a lot of comments and suggestions. Writing for a school newspaper is a learning experience. You can’t get better if you don’t learn from your mistakes.

Obviously, the reviews should always be made by an experienced editor.

We recommend the art director and production manager to make a style manual because it will help students get familiar with the design guidelines and learn to respect them. The manual might change over time. You don’t have to provide extremely detailed guidelines to make it useful for newspaper design.

The newspaper style guide should cover the general layout, number of pages, font types and sizes, guidelines for photos and cropping. These rules will guarantee some visual consistency for your future newspaper editions. Ask all designers to get familiar with the rules, before they start working on their first assignment. It will help save a lot of time and headaches for the art director/ production manager.

The newsroom is a very busy and exciting place. Everybody works on something, and the production manager has to coordinate everything, making sure the design and the copy complement each other. Communication between designers, art director, editors and production manager is key. It’s challenging, but rewarding at the same time. Designers will work with dummy texts at the beginning, until editors finish their part. It also means that they will have to make edits to the design and make small adjustments so that everything looks great.

If you are a designer working for a school paper, learn about grids, composition and editorial design principles. Your design should look great and provide a great reading experience.

Perfect for online publishing and ready for print

We made a few school newspaper templates that are free to edit online and to publish them digitally. These templates are the perfect solution for very small or inexperienced teams, because they will save you a LOT of time.

Take a look the images below to see some of our school paper templates.

You won’t even need a designer or art director if you know how to edit and adapt these newspaper templates to your needs.

Start editing your favorite newspaper template very easily. Just click on images and register for an account. Then you can customize these layouts in the editor with a simple click on these images.

You can add more pages, duplicate pages, delete pages and do extensive customization.

There’s also another option for advanced designers. They can create their own layouts from scratch in our online editor, starting with blank pages.

Or, you can even upload a ready-made PDF to Flipsnack and we will turn it into a beautiful page-flip document that’s highly shareable.

When you’re done editing, proofreading and you get the final approval from the production manager, you can go ahead and download a PDF copy of the newspaper design on your computer. It requires a premium subscription, but it’s worthed. The downloaded PDF is printable, so you can take it to print right away.

Online student publishing and production

Nowadays many newspapers are digital-only, for various reasons. It completely removes printing costs and it’s eco-friendly. No more paper, no more trees being cut! We think this is a great solution for schools, especially because the young generations of students are digital natives.

If you decide to try online student publishing, you have 2 options: publish the newspaper as a website/ blog or publish it digitally as an online newspaper with turning pages. The second option is probably easier to produce, because it doesn’t require constant updating. The stylish look is an added bonus. And let’s not forget about the fact that you can start from a school newspaper template.

The digital version of your student newspaper is free with Flipsnack. We will host it online on our most secure servers, so you don’t have to worry about hosting (or anything else, for that matter). All you will have to do is share the link with students, or integrate the newspaper in your school’s website (very easily) with the help of the embed code. Anyone can do it, it doesn’t require tech skills.

— Hope you found this useful. What are your biggest challenges in writing for / designing or producing your school’s newspaper?

17 Comments

Thanks for this. As a newly appointed editor in chief (my 1st time), I have to re-access my knowledge about student paper and the ways so I’m glad I found this site!

[…] for the school newspaper is a blessing in disguise. As a kid, you may be scared at the beginning, but after you have written […]

As a newly appointed EIC, I think that being part of the editorial board is an indicator that we are indeed the cream of the crop, a thing that we must really be grateful for. But before proceeding to the complexes, it is vital to know first the basics, thanks to this! :-)

So glad that you found this useful!

This was very helpful!

I really appreciate your tip to have someone be in charge of the layout when you publish your newspaper so it looks natural. My wife and I have been thinking of getting our daughter into the school newspaper so she can make friends. I will be sure to tell her to ask about a layout specialist.

Hello. I find this article useful to my study. I would like to ask for the complete name of the author and the date of its publication so I can have the citation.

Hi Zacharia, here are the requested details: Author name: Janina Moza Date of publication: Feb 8, 2018

What I am looking for for my middle school journalism class is the ability for the students to have access to designing and writing directly on the program and then I complete the final editing before publication. Is this possible with Flipsnack? Can the students have their own individual access to the paper? The last online newspaper we did only allowed for me to do everything.

Hi Shannon! We highly recommend getting a classroom plan for your class: Classroom plan It includes up to 30 connected student accounts, fully controlled by the teacher, so you would be able to do the final editing on their designs. With this plan students can work on projects at the same time in Flipsnack (but the program might not save all their edits properly if they all work on the same project). If you’re looking for a free option, you can use Flipsnack to create projects that are up to 30 pages long, but it will only allow one user account. So you would have to use the same account as the student to log in and make the final edits.

This article is very useful? Thank you so much?

Hello.. thank you so much for sharing you expertise on these matter. I’m so thankful i found this site. I’ve been looking for this kind, a comprehensive guide for a school paper publication. It was so helpful especially for us neophytes.

Thank you very much for your kind words! We also have another article on the same subject. Check it here . Happy reading! :)

Hi. Your blog is easy to comprehend yet substancial. I can’t specifically find a direct answer to this. Can a published newspaper have multilingual articles in one issue? Like the news sections have an article written in full english while other news are in a foreign language. It’s a high school paper by the way. Thanks

Hello, Nory! Yes, you have the total freedom to insert multilingual articles in one issue if you want. Create your high school paper however you want! Have a nice day! :)

Hello, thank you so much for this article. I am about to start a college newspaper and I find the information here helpful

This is good information. It helps to build my confidence in my knowledge about the process of producing a newsletter. Thank you,

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20 Middle School Newspaper Ideas: How To Start One

March 2, 2024 //  by  Ashley Charles

If your middle school currently doesn’t have a newspaper, then you might want to jump on the bandwagon. Not only is it a great way to connect kids to writing, reporting, and journalism, but it creates a sense of community and gets kids involved in citizenship around their school.

1. Organize a Team or Club 

The school paper is an important publication. It should include middle school reporters, publishers, editors, and content creators. You can publish it in paper or online. Follow these simple steps to get started.

Learn More: Pro Writing Aid

2. Try Teaching a Journalism Teaching Unit 

Get students interested in what journalism is with some terrific classroom activities to peak their interests and challenge students. There are likely going to be some students who start to pull ahead of the pack and those are the ones you’ll want to invite to the journalism club.

Learn More: School Journalism

3. Idea for Articles: School News

Once you have your crew and they know their expectations, it’s time to start brainstorming article ideas. The first and most obvious is school news; sports, science fairs, and school policies are all just some of the topics reporters can cover.

Learn More: Classroom

4. Idea for Articles: Editorials 

The opinions of the editorial staff should not be overlooked. Journalism students should have the opportunity to express their ideas on school happenings to keep readers engaged and interested.

Learn More: Creative Writing Ideas and Activities

5. Lesson Basics: Writing an Article

Teaching kids how to make sure their articles follow the format of a traditional newspaper article is important but easy with the basic resources listed here on Pillnut Press.

Learn More: Pillnut Press

6. Ideas for Content: Funnies 

Allow the creative students to utilize their skills to make a comic strip. Most kids in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade won’t know what a comic strip is, but with a little direction, they can get them going in no time.

Learn More: Imagine Forest

7. Ideas for Articles: Current Events

Are current events creating a murmur around the school? Hit major stories by allowing students to peruse actual newspapers to fact-check and then do their own research on them.

Learn More: Solid Essay

8. Ideas for Content: Calendar of Upcoming Events

Calendars are a great addition to any publication. Middle school students will appreciate having all their information in one place.

Learn More: Education

9. Ideas for Content: Feature Story

Allow your students to take turns creating a feature story to headline the newspaper. This type of story allows middle schoolers to really express their journalistic style while still reporting the facts, details, and interviews.

Learn More: Study

10. Ideas for Content: Advice Column 

The paper can become an interactive resource when you get other students involved by allowing them to submit questions to gain advice circling around their own middle school lives and harder challenges.

Learn More: Connect with Kids

11. Go Digital

Do you have limited funds for a printed publication at your school? Give middle schoolers an extended challenge by having them practice their typing and word processing skills on the computer while creating their news stories.

Learn More:  Dribbble

12. Ideas for Content: Reviews

What middle schooler doesn’t like to give his or her opinion? Whether it’s on the current trend style, movies, school curriculum, or extra-curricular activities, allow your students to express themselves and practice freedom of speech in a safe, responsible way.

Learn More: SchoolJournalism.org

13. Ideas for Articles: Educational Articles

Students learned something that they just can’t keep to themselves. Allow them to write an educational article that explains how to do something, or something important that they learned and think the rest of the school should know.

Learn More: Ness Labs

14. Keep the Journalism Team Engaged With Fun Activities

Whether your journalism team is new to one another or they’ve been together for a while now, students will need some occasional team-building activities to keep things running smoothly and prevent discord. These ideas will work great for all middle school grade levels.

Learn More: Edutopia

15. Invite Guest Writers to Increase Buy-In

Going back to the idea of interactivity and resourcefulness, allow students who are NOT on the team to create guest articles every now and again. Guest spots often create intriguing articles and offer an opportunity for a new viewpoint and break up any monotony that might occur.

Learn More: Louisville Business First

16. Have Students Read Other Student Papers

Before you have your students jump into the world of middle school newspapers, it might be a good idea to have your group start brainstorming ahead of time by collecting school papers from other places to read and research. Have them write down what they like, don’t like, what works well, what designs or templates they like, and more.

Learn More:  SNO Sites

17. Content Idea: Caption that Photo

Host a weekly contest where you post a random photo and ask the student body to “Caption that Photo” for a prize. Yet another creative way to turn the paper into a connective and entertaining resource.

Learn More:  Pinterest

18. Content Idea: Staff Interviews

Create entertaining articles by allowing young journalists to interview staff members at your school. This is an entertaining way to allow students to get to know the staff as people, and not just as adults in charge.

Learn More:  Fast Company

19. Content Idea: Explain Famous Photos

The middle school paper should be informational and entertaining. Help teach others some things by having your journalist team research the real information behind some of the world’s most famous photos and watch the readership explode.

Learn More:  Scoop Whoop

20. Journalism Workshops

Create an outreach right in your school by having the newspaper club or team host journalism workshops! Get underclassmen interested in journalism, help cultivate great writing skills, and become a hub for learning where kids teach kids. Learn more about workshops and glean ideas to host your own below.

Learn More:  School Journalism

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Journalism Center

High school newspaper article ideas.

Sometimes it is hard to know what to write about. Since we specialize in printing school newspapers, we have a good idea of what schools like to write about. Below are a compilation of article ideas that we have found schools utilizing in their newspapers.

Other Essential Newspaper Tools

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Student Spotlight

Interview a student or more than one (even a particular group) and write an article about that individual or group. Try to discover some atypical information from them that would make an intriguing article. Ask questions such as:

• If you had a magic wand and could change anything about the school, what would be the number one change you would make and why?
• If you were the principal and found yourself in charge of us, what would be the first thing you would do?
• What makes a good teacher/principal?
• What makes a good student?
• Here is a list of 10 teachers and administrators, what move/TV actor most resembles each teacher or administrator?
• If school were a movie, what movie would we all be in?
• What is fame and what is the route you intend to take to get there?
• How do you define peer-pressure and is it dangerous? Why?
• If you had the power to hire anyone in the world to be your teacher, who would you hire and why?
• What is the best kept secret on campus that you’re willing to spoil?

Popular Culture

Write articles about the latest movies, music, literature and art. You can write reviews, make recommendations, take polls, and become a critic. Be sure to add screen shots or photos to enhance the article.

Student Life

Write articles about the daily happenings around the school. Write about sporting events, activities, accomplishments, changes in policy, rules, teacher changes, and more. Things to consider writing an article about are:

• Your sports teams
• Your teachers
• Your administrators
• School changes
• The cafeteria food
• Extra-circular activities
• Field trips
• School needs
• Information about upcoming events and activities

Rivalries and School Elections

Every school has that arch “enemy” so to speak, that other school that always seems to be the one school everyone wants to beat in sports. Writing about them and past and future rivalries make for good articles. Write stories on those running for class offices and talk about their strengths and weaknesses.

School History

Write articles about local news. You might even be able to interview the mayor, city council, and other city or county officials. In writing about local news, make sure it relates to the students in your school in some way.

Editorials and Opinion Pieces

Solicit students to write opinion articles,letters to the editor, and editorials. Some great topics to write on are:

• Trending stories – stories that polarize people, cause social upheaval, or that most people are following.
• Social issues (parenting, divorce, dating, religion, marriage, diversity, racism, etc).
• School policy and rules
• School curriculum

Self-Help Articles

You can write articles that help people overcome certain addictions, bad habits, and fears. Write articles on what to do if someone tries to take advantage of you, how to overcome the fear of authority, how to approach the principal, what friendship really is, how to make friends, how to study, ways to get better grade, study tips, and so forth.

Other Ideas

These ideas should get you going in the right direction. Don’t forget to add things like:

• Comics (particularly student drawn ones)
• Guest articles (from staff and faculty)
• Hide an icon, picture, or logo in your newspaper for students to find
• Popular product reviews
• Popular services reviews

Free Cloud Designer Templates

Our templates are 100% customizable, super user-friendly, and designed specifically to help you create outstanding school newspapers with our free Cloud Designer. Below are a few of the 100s of templates available to you.

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Popular Newspaper Niches

Schools - Colleges, High Schools, Middle, Elementary

Community - Income Generating, Public Service

Businesses - Marketing, Catalogs, Newsletters

Religious - Churches, Religious Organizations

More Popular Niches

Real Estate - Properties, Growth, Community

Restaurants - Menus, Reviews, Funny Pages

Political - Elections, Campaigns, Grass Roots

Personal - Birthdays , Reunions , Weddings

Categories That Generate Stories for School Newspapers

Sports, events, clubs, profiles, and trends provide plenty to cover

• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• M.S., Journalism, Columbia University
• B.A., Journalism, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Working at a high school or college newspaper can be a great training ground for an aspiring young journalist, but coming up with story ideas can be intimidating.

Some school papers have editors who are full of great story ideas. but finding an assignment is often up to the reporter . Interesting stories are plentiful if you know where to look. Here are descriptions of several types of stories to trigger your search for topics. plus examples of real stories involving those topics done by college journalism students:

This category includes coverage of important issues on campus and developments that affect students. These are the kinds of stories that typically make the front page. Look for issues and developments that make a difference in the lives of students, and then think of the causes and consequences of those events. For instance, let's say your college decides to raise student tuition. What caused this action, and what are its consequences? Chances are you will be able to get several stories out of this single issue.

Student-produced newspapers often report about student clubs, and these stories are fairly easy to do. Chances are your school's website has a clubs page with contact information. Get in touch with the adviser and interview him or her along with some student members. Write about what the club does, when they meet, and any other interesting details. Be sure to include contact information for the club, especially the website address.

Sports stories are the bread and butter of many school papers, but a lot of people just want to write about pro teams. The school's sports teams should be at the top of the reporting list; after all, these are your classmates, and many other media outlets deal with the pro teams. There are almost as many ways to write about sports as there are teams.

This area of coverage includes poetry readings, speeches by guest lecturers, visiting bands and musicians, club events, and major productions. Check bulletin boards around campus and the events calendar on the school's website for upcoming events. In addition to covering the events themselves, you can do preview stories in which you alert readers to the event.

Interview a fascinating teacher or staff member at your school and write a story. If a student has accomplished interesting things, write about him or her. Sports team stars always make good subjects for profiles.

Reviews of the latest movies, plays, TV shows, video games, music, and books are big reader draws on campus. They can be a lot of fun to write, but remember that reviews don't give you the kind of reporting experience that news stories do.

What are the latest trends students are following on your campus? Are there trends on other campuses that your classmates might find interesting? Find trends in technology, relationships, fashion, music, and social media usage and write about them.

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High School Newspaper Story Ideas

• Modern day heroes
• Unusual pets
• Unusual jobs (or students who meet famous people as a result of their part-time job)
• Making a comeback—students or faculty who have overcome incredible odds.
• The rescue team—librarians who save your necks during research paper time.
• The library—how much is lost each year due to theft, or books not returned, or vandalism. What is being done to curtail this?
• Brian drain—the most difficult classes
• Making the grade—feature on the students who make A’s in the class or from the teacher no one makes A’s from.
• Favorite classes. Why?
• The high price of education—classes that cost additional money like photography, art, computer classes…
• The cost of belonging—activities where you have to pay additional money to represent the school— summer camps, cheerleading uniforms, pompon, dance lines, minor sports, etc.
• Student entrepreneurs
• Volunteers—students/faculty who perform service work in the community
• School traditions
• Athletic superstitions
• Selling yourself—athletes who are real press hounds because they need the publicity to attract college scholarships
• Being recruited—athletes and non-athletes who are heavily recruited by schools, military, etc. Keep track of all the literature received from colleges, etc. Figure postage costs…
• The school junker—the car that’s held together with twine, etc.
• The neatest car in the school—not necessarily the most expensive but the one with the most personality.
•  Games teachers play to get your attention or to make a point
• Embarrassing moments in the classroom—for teachers and students
• Breaking curfew
• Excuses—those that students give teachers and those teachers give students
• A day in the life of….your school, the homecoming candidates, the cross-country team, the principal, etc. A journal approach to capturing the day the way it was.
• Sneak attack—a story about tennis shoes (sneakers) in your school. Consider running a survey to determine the average number of sneakers owned, the average cost, and then figure the total cost of sneakers in your school. It’s probably a multi-million business in your school.
• First dates
• Long distance romances—how difficult is it to keep them alive? How expensive are your phone bills? How many letters/e-mails written in a week, etc.
• Techniques for getting noticed by a guy/girl.
• Excuses given from breaking a date
• Over achievers–what drives them to work so hard?
• Students with parents who work at school and the flip side of that–parental reaction to having their children as students/athletes.
• Large families–over 12. How large is the grocery bill? Do they ever get new clothes or do they end up in hand me downs? How long do they wait for the restroom in the morning?
• Heros in hand-me-downs. Junior varsity teams who work hard but seldom have anything new for themselves.
• Team trainers
• On the road again–travel with an athletic team to do a color story on what the road trips are like.
• Bands–students or faculty who have their own bands or play in bands.
• Famous alumni
• Leaders and pleaders–organization leaders who have to beg to get people to do things
• Being clubbed to death–so many clubs and so many choices. Getting overextended in club work.
• Your first credit card
• Driver’s test
• Being stopped by the police
• The class clown–there’s always one who is really a comedian. What makes him tick?
• Unusual hobbies
• Gameaholics–students who spend all of their time and money on video games or board games
• Student hangouts
• Exciting summer trips or spring break trips
• Students who are taking college credit while still in high school
• Unusual relatives within the student body
• Shopping–an obsession
• Purging the urge to splurge–on shopping, eating, whatever. How do you stop?
• School rivalries
• Parents with unusual jobs
• Tanning booths
• Strange and unusual piercings
• Teachers with second and third jobs
• Married teachers who teach in the same school
• Car accidents and tickets
• Being a twin/triplet…
• Making a difference–people who have been an instrumental influence on students’ lives
• Skateboarders
• Stressed for success–students who are intent on achieving academic success, college entrance exams, etc.
• School mascot
• Parental pressure on coaches to let students play–student reaction to this too
• Fashion and fads
• Weather and its impact on school events
• How much it costs to run a school
• Being a custodian, cafeteria worker…
• School epidemics
• How long it takes to get ready in the morning
• How much money the school receives in scholarships
• Cell phones and student use
• Divorce–impact on students
• Teen marriages
• Peer pressure–how students deal with them
• Homecoming Week/Prom Week
• Single-parent families
• What’s cooking–spend a day with the cooks and write a color story about their job. Include specifics on how much food it takes to prepare the students’ favorite meal. What time do they start their day, etc.
• Fast food. How often do students eat it? How much do they spend? What’s their favorite fast food meal.
• Cramming–techniques for studying for tests. How often do students feel they have to cram?
• Procrastination–everybody does it. What rationalizations do students/teachers use to put things off?
• Students or teachers with outstanding accomplishments
• Foul-ups behind the scenes at plays
• Time investment–the number of hours that goes into the preparation of a 12-minute halftime show
• Student musicians who began at an early age–hours they’ve practiced, glad they spend that kind of time…
• Internet and mass media invasion
• Student involvement in environmental protection
• Teenage suicide prevention
• Bench warmers–the athletes who may not see much playing time but are an important part of the game because they keep the team psyched. These are the folks that hold the team together.
• Student jobs–strange work stories
• Freshmen fears
• Tricks played on freshmen or underclassmen
• Competition and how it affects students

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High School Newspaper Story Ideas

19 sep 2022.

Explore this article

• What is a High School Newspaper?
• What are High School Newspaper Story Ideas?
• Arts and Entertainment

1 What is a High School Newspaper?

A school newspaper not only provides students and parents with up-to-date news and bulletins but also includes longer in-depth features. A well-produced and edited newspaper highlights individual student and school successes. It also fosters a sense of community. Many school newspapers strive to be interactive and to profile the students' own ideas and experiences. While high school newspapers can vary in terms of article ideas, designs of the front page, inclusions of current events and local news stories, many are similar in terms of what they produce for the school community. While writing articles for the school paper may come as a hard task for some student staff members, these papers are flexible for student journalists to grow into the field of journalism.

2 What are High School Newspaper Story Ideas?

Ideal topics to include in the newspaper's news pages are recent sports achievements, such as the school basketball team winning a league game. Other possible items to include are individual student or class success stories, such as reaching the Intel Science competition finals. Snippets about changes to school policy, forthcoming events, field trips and fundraising stories are also good news choices. A newspaper reporter could also include stories about important visitors and awards ceremonies. Newspaper articles focusing around specific student life or student body activities can also be interesting for the high school student readers as they read the school paper on campus.

A school newspaper's features section is an opportunity for creativity. Topical features could include school efforts toward becoming "green," including recycling. Some of the features should address students' emotional needs. For instance, topics such as "how to prevent bullying" and "when to seek counseling" could help many students. Other feature ideas include profiling a teacher, custodian or the principal, or doing a broader story on different embarrassing moments from students or staff in their school careers. Features can also address concerns such as budgetary effects on the school. Social media or apps are often a great place to search for feature stories within upcoming events or other trending stories online. Features can also be human interest stories that focus on specific subjects of importance that deal with overall school policies, school district events or different school sports events.

5 Arts and Entertainment

The section on arts should include a mix of reviews of new books, movies and music of interest to the students. Profiles of local bands, particularly if some of the students are members, would be a good choice. This section could also focus on the school's choir, drama and poetry societies and include comments from the students. Interviews with local artists, writers and musicians are other options for the arts section. This section could also include short stories and poems by students.

The sports section enables the newspaper reporters to record individual and team successes, such as swimmers progressing to the state finals. Features on sports could focus on training and preparation techniques. Individual stories, such as a female senior student who becomes a karate teacher, would fit well in this section. Comment pieces, predicting success and evaluating the competition, are suitable in this section. Inspirational stories from local sporting heroes would also interest students. Sports stories can also include interesting stories relating to the school mascot or certain sports teams events with school rivalries.

About the Author

Based on the south coast of the U.K., Sally Nash has been writing since 1988. Her articles have appeared in everything from "Hairdressers Journal" to "Optician." She has also been published in national newspapers such as the "Financial Times." Nash holds a Master of Arts in creative writing from Manchester Metropolitan University.

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School Newspaper Ideas

Starting a new(s)paper at school? This article has some great ideas for a school newspaper that you can use to make your school's in-house paper a massive hit!

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Starting a new(s)paper at school? This article has some great ideas for a school newspaper that you can use to make your school’s in-house paper a massive hit!

Mona had been given the responsibility of planning and starting a new newspaper for her school. She was so excited about it! She ran home to tell her mother. It seemed like a dream come true at that time, but now, she’s wondering if she was mental to accept the responsibility of such an important school activity. She had no idea about starting a newspaper and neither did she know how she was going to go about it! The drama queen that she was, she began fretting about how she would be the laughingstock at her school! It was then that her mother, a very practical and street smart woman, to calm her down, let her in on some secrets about the whole newspaper starting deal. Here are a few of them for all you first timers.

What Goes Into Planning a High School Newspaper

Starting a newspaper at a high school level can be both challenging and fun. Challenging, because you need to explore yourself for so many qualities like taking initiative, leadership skills, resource and personnel management and the like. Yeah, they sound like incredibly grown up and complicated terms. But remember, if you’ve taken up the responsibility, you definitely know what you’re doing, so the first step has already been taken. It also involves at least the basic knowledge of journalism and different types of journalistic writing. The others will come automatically. For information on how to fill up your paper, here’s some help.

Topics you Can Use

A newspaper is basically a collection of content generated from various sources. To make the content available to readers, and for easy segregation by you, content has to be classified into different topics. Let us see what are some topics that you can include in your paper.

• News (of course) : Well, it IS a newspaper, so you have to include some news in it. What type of news to include, however, is your call. You can use local, national or international news. Or if you think that’s too cliché, and you want to do something different, you can make the news section only about your school campus. Make sure that it is timely and has some relevance. These are going to be the hard stories, the front page stories. So, make sure they deserve to be there.
• Sports Articles : This is an important section in your paper. Highlight all the sports events taking place and the ones that are likely to take place in the future. Write on sports and recreation and on inter school sports events like basketball or baseball, etc. as well. Get someone who is interested in sports to do this, else you’ll have copy after copy of nonsense.
• Features : Features in newspapers are basically human interest stories. Scrounge around for interesting people. Or people who have an interesting story to tell. Ask your reporters to be on the constant lookout for such soft stories, because this is what will fill the major portion of your school newspaper. They must strike a nerve with the readers.
• Editorial : Fixing editors for your paper can vary from school to school. Some may have one throughout the year, some may have a rotational system every month within the team running the paper. Whoever is the editor, must have the capability to write a strong voiced editorial about a relevant topic. Relevance may be to the school, the city or even the country! There are a variety of editorial topics to choose from. The editor has to take a definite stand on whatever topic he/she has chosen to write and thus enforce the ideology of the paper as well.
• LTE : Letters to the Editor are also an important part of the paper. You can ask your school kids to write their views about the paper or about any topic that they wish to. Publish these in the LTE section. Don’t limit their topics. It helps greatly in assessing the response and feedback (both positive and negative) generated by the readers of your paper.
• Photographs : Using good photographs in your school paper is what will attract your readers to it. So, if you have a hot piece of gossip on campus, but don’t have the evidence (photo) to back it up, you can well imagine the dip in the popularity of the paper. Plus, using stand alone pictures is one of the best tricks that you can use to fill up space when you’re short of copy. Just make sure that the pictures are well shot and well edited by a student who’s trained. Don’t forget to give him the credit for it.
• Miscellaneous : Though termed as miscellaneous, sections like comic strips, puzzles, poetry, vox populi, etc. make up a major portion of your paper. They showcase the talents of the kids at your school and encourages them to pursue these talents and maybe turn them into a full-fledged career.

Story Ideas

The technical aspects related to the news gathering, editing, page layout and finally printing the paper is something that your school will know best. As far as help for ideas and topics goes, this should suffice. I’m sure Mona was happy with these school newspaper ideas, don’t you think? I’m guessing she modified it to tailor fit her school crowd and that’s what you need to do too. Make sure you gauge your target audience and draft each issue accordingly. Good luck!

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20 Middle School Newspaper Ideas: How to Start One

• Middle School

Starting a middle school newspaper club can be a fun and engaging way to foster creativity, hone writing skills, and keep students informed about what’s happening in their community. From interesting articles to exciting updates and stories, there is no shortage of ideas available for your middle school newspaper. Here are 20 ideas to get you started:

1. School News: Keep students updated on important events, such as dances, fundraisers, sporting events, and PTA meetings.

2. Student Interviews: Feature different students each issue, providing a platform for them to share their thoughts and experiences.

3. Teacher Profiles: Highlight the educators who make your school special with interviews and short biographies.

4. Opinion Pieces: Encourage students to express their opinions on topics relevant to their community or the world in general.

5. Book Reviews: Offer recommendations for new books to read based on recent releases or student favorites.

6. Club Updates: Encourage club leaders to share updates on their activities and achievements.

7. Recipes & DIY Projects: Include step-by-step instructions for simple recipes or crafts that students can try at home.

8. Sports Results & Highlights: Recap recent games, matches, and competitions, spotlighting key players and moments.

9. Creative Writing Corner: Publish original poems, short stories, or essays by students.

10. Historical Features: Explore the history of your school or local community in a series of articles.

11. Advice Column: Designate a student or teacher as the resident advice-giver, responding to anonymous inquiries from readers.

12. Comic Strips & Illustrations: Showcase the talents of artistically-inclined students with original comics or drawings.

13. Science & Technology Updates: Share the latest news surrounding innovations in science and technology that might interest middle schoolers.

14. Study Tips & Tricks: Provide advice on ways to improve study habits and succeed academically.

15. Quizzes & Puzzles: Entertain readers with crossword puzzles, trivia quizzes, or word searches.

16. Movie & TV Reviews: Recap popular new movies or TV shows that students are watching.

17. Environmental News & Tips: Educate students on ways to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle and local environmental initiatives.

18. School Surveys: Conduct surveys to gauge student opinions on various topics and share the results in the newspaper.

19. Fashion & Style Trends: Keep readers informed about the latest fashion and style trends specific to middle schoolers.

20. Behind-the-scenes looks at school events: Provide insight into what goes on behind the scenes of school productions, concerts, or other events.

By incorporating a variety of these ideas into your middle school newspaper, you’ll create a diverse and engaging publication that appeals to a wide range of interests. Start assembling your team of writers, editors, and designers today and begin crafting a newspaper that will serve as a source of education and entertainment for your school community.

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How to Write an Article for Your School Newspaper

Last Updated: March 1, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Gerald Posner . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 601,760 times.

Writing an article for your school newspaper can be exciting and rewarding, especially once you see your name in print! If you don't already belong to your school newspaper, you may need to try out or talk to the editor about submitting some sample pieces. To write an article, you'll need to decide which type of article you'd like to write, check on submission guidelines, research your topic, interview sources, and write it in the proper newspaper format.

Joining the Team and Writing Different Types of Articles

• Check to see if there are deadlines for turning in mock articles, what the editor is looking for in a new staff member, and if there are any meetings you can attend to get more information.

• If you've been on staff for a while, you may have the freedom to choose your own article topics. But until you know your position, it's always a good idea to ask for assignments.

• Feature stories are the largest articles in a newspaper, and they often go beyond simple facts to the reasons behind something, like why an event happened and what it means for students moving forward.
• An example of a feature story would be an article about a new scholarship being offered in your state. How it works, who is eligible, and facts about the work that went into making the scholarship program a reality would make a compelling story.

• News articles are generally more straight-forward than feature stories or opinion articles. They convey relevant information in an unbiased way.

• For example, you could write an editorial about school rules, events or groups on campus, sports, programs, or teaching methods.

• If you want to be a regular columnist for your school newspaper, present a plan to your editor for a series of articles that you'd like to work on. For example, you could propose a 4-week series about starting a club or practicing self-care.

• For example, you could write an article called “Top 10 Tips to Manage Stress,” “How to Develop Good Study Habits,” or “How to Get in Shape before Tryouts.”

• For example, if you review a new movie that came out, you could write about who would most enjoy the film. Perhaps it would be great for someone who likes action movies but not as enjoyable for someone who prefers comedies.

Researching, Interviewing, and Fact Gathering

• Talk to your editor, production manager, or faculty advisor for more information.

• Who? Find out who was involved, whether that would be students, administrators, or other people in your community.
• What? Write down exactly what it is that you are writing about. Is it an event, a person, or an idea? Be as specific as possible.
• Where? Identify where the event took place. Is this a subject that is particular to your school or community, or is it a national subject?
• When? Make note of important dates and times.
• Why? Determine the reasons behind the subject. Was there a catalyst?
• How? Connect the rest of your information together to determine how an event or subject came together.

• When contacting a person for an interview, let them know who you are and what topic you're writing about, and give them an estimate of how much of their time you'll need.
• When you finish an interview, take 10 minutes to write down additional notes right away. They'll be fresh in your mind and you'll be less likely to forget important details.

• Ask if you have someone's permission to use their name and words in your article, and write down their quote verbatim. You can use anonymous sources, but quotes are more compelling when they can be traced back to a specific individual.

• Fact-checking makes you a more trustworthy writer and ensures that you're taking the time to communicate as truthfully as you can about any particular subject.

• Some reporters dictate notes to themselves or write out daily logs about their interviews and research. Figure out what works for you and your lifestyle, and then stick to it.

Writing the Article

• A lot of times, readers will decide if they want to continue reading an article based off of the first sentence or two.

• Sometimes you'll come up with a great headline before you even write the article, but most often you won't know exactly what you're presenting until after you've written it. Try waiting until after you've written your article to come up with the headline, and then make sure it fits in with the given topic.

• People who want to know more about the topic will continue reading past those first 2 paragraphs, but people who just wanted the basic information will get their answers without having to search through the entire article.

• For example, instead of saying, “Principal Miller comes from rainy Washington state and had been teaching before becoming a principal for 15 years,” you could say something like, “Principal Miller previously lived in Washington, and she has over 15 years of experience in the educational system."

• Always ask for permission to quote someone when you're interviewing them.

• Being able to proofread your own work is an essential part of being a successful member of the newspaper staff, and the more you work at it, the better you'll get.

Expert Q&A

• Be careful when writing to avoid plagiarizing other sources. It's okay to use information from others, but make sure to reword it in your own way so it's unique and to cite sources when needed. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you're having trouble coming up with an idea for an article, ask for an assignment from the editor. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about writing as a career, check out our in-depth interview with Gerald Posner .

• ↑ https://www.pilinutpress.com/Articles/Writing/WritingArticlesfortheSchoolNewspaper.html
• ↑ https://makemynewspaper.com/how-to-start-a-school-newspaper/
• ↑ https://schools.firstnews.co.uk/blog/journalistic-writing/how-to-start-a-school-newspaper/
• ↑ https://study.com/learn/lesson/newspaper-article-format-examples.html
• ↑ https://blog.flipsnack.com/school-newspaper-guide/
• ↑ https://makemynewspaper.com/how-to-write-a-school-news-article
• ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-a-newspaper-article.html
• ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/the-secret-to-writing-great-headlines-2073697

About This Article

To write an article for your school newspaper, start with a lead paragraph that explains the who, what, where, when, and why of what you're writing about. Then, for the second and third paragraphs, include any additional facts and details that your readers should know. You can also include quotes from witnesses or school officials in this part of your article. Finally, conclude your article with the least important or relevant information. To learn how to research and come up with article ideas, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Dear Jilsters, because of shipment delays, our delivery times are 1-2 days longer than indicated 💌

40 ideas and topics for a school magazine

Find inspiration on what to write about....

There are so many occasions and opportunities to design your own magazine for school in Jilster's makerspace. Whether in class for projects, for practical work, for school newspapers, farewell magazines , memorial publications, and many more. Do you have one in mind?

Quick & Easy: Make a school magazine in Jilster's makerspace

In our makerspace you can design any magazine you want. Our easy-to-use editor offers many options with great, professionally designed magazine templates for you to use as a basis and starting point for your own projects. You can choose a template for every topic.

Are you looking to design magazine projects for school but are not sure what to write about? Perhaps you are part of the editorial team for the school newspaper and looking for new topics? We have compiled a list below of ideas that can help you develop a concept for your own magazine.

People in the spotlight

Do interviews with…

• The school secretary
• The caretaker
• The school psychologist And let them tell their story.

What is the story of life at school?

What does a typical day at school look like? Are there any new clubs and teams?

Write about:

• Sports teams - volleyball, football, basketball, athletics…
• School clubs - theater, literature, science…
• School band, orchestra choir…

What is the school's current topic of discussion?

For example:

• Food offered in the cafeteria
• School party
• Introduction of school uniforms
• Dismantling the table tennis table..

What do you and the other students enjoy?

Let others write about their recommendations and provide others with special tips.

Topics to write about for example:

• Latest music
• Popular movies
• Interesting art
• Exciting games (board games, apps, ect.)

What is the story about your school's history?

Do some research and share your school's history. Celebrate your school and it's anniversary.

• Foundation of the school
• History of the school name
• What was it like 50 years ago?
• Renovation: before and after photos of the school building (s)
• Local news: find out what's going on in the near area of the school. Is there something interesting for students and teachers? Write reports and articles and take some photographs.

What is on the school's agenda?

• Will the bus stop be rebuilt?
• Is there a new sports complex?
• Has a new basketball hoop been installed in the park?
• Interview with the mayor
• Interview other important groups of people in your city or town
• Opinions and perspectives

Ask your classmates to write opinion articles, letters to the editor, and editorials about:

• School rules
• School classes and subjects
• School uniforms
• What makes a good teacher?
• What makes a good student?

Include opinions and tips on personal topics in your magazine. For example:

• How do you make friends?
• How do you work well together? (teamwork)
• How can you overcome fear?
• How can you get rid of bad habits?
• How can you deal with peer pressure?
• What can you do against bullying?

More ideas you can implement in your school newspaper or magazine project at school

• Comics (written and drawn by students)
• Competitions
• Project on socially relevant topics
• Practical work
• Results of creative projects (art works)

How do you make your own school magazine?

• Create an account in Jilster

• Make a design in the makerspace

• Choose a template from our selection

• Invite students, teachers, and parents to collaborate together

• Get creative. Add images, your own photos, texts, PDF-files and edit the pages as you wish. You can also use templates & cliparts.

• Do a final edit

• Place your order

• Share your moment of giving with us 🤗

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• 26 Writing Newspaper Stories

Start-Up Activity

Clip an interesting news story, human-interest story, and letter to the editor from a local newspaper and bring them in to read to your class. After each article, lead a discussion:

What is this story about?

What makes this story interesting?

Is the writer trying to explain something, to share something interesting, or to convince us?

Then have volunteers read the two paragraphs on page 126, explaining the difference between the three types of stories. Help students know that they can write any of those types of stories in this chapter.

Think About It

“A nonfiction writer is a storyteller who has taken an oath to tell the truth.”

—Russell Friedman

State Standards Covered in This Chapter

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.6
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.B
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.7
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.C
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.D
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.4
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.5
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.6
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.A
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.B
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.1.D

LAFS Covered in This Chapter

Lafs.3.ri.1.1, lafs.3.ri.1.2, lafs.3.ri.2.5, lafs.3.ri.2.6, lafs.3.w.1.2, lafs.3.w.3.7, lafs.3.w.2.4, lafs.3.w.2.5, lafs.3.w.2.6, lafs.3.w.1.1, teks covered in this chapter, 110.5.b.6.b, 110.5.b.9.d, 110.5.b.9.d.i, 110.5.b.9.d.ii, 110.5.b.12.b, 110.5.b.11.b.i, 110.5.b.11.b.ii, 110.5.b.11.a, 110.5.b.11.c, 110.5.b.11.d, 110.5.b.11.e, 110.5.b.12.c, page 127 from write on track, sample news story.

Have a volunteer read each paragraph of the sample news story. Afterward, return to point out the headline, byline, lead, body, and closing, explaining each. Let students know that their own news stories will have all of these same parts but focus on a different topic.

If you would like students to write human-interest stories or letters to the editor instead of news stories, read through pages 130–131.

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Page 128 from Write on Track

Writing a news story.

Help students brainstorm important events in their school or community. If they have trouble, prompt them with questions:

• What big announcements happened this week at school?
• What interesting things have you noticed in the city?
• What is everybody talking about?
• What are you most excited about that is going to happen?

After students choose topics to write about, lead them through the three ways to collect information. Also, make sure they understand the 5 W's: who? what? when? where? and why?

Asking and Answering the 5 W's and H Questions

Teach students to collect key details.

Page 129 from Write on Track

Writing, revising, and editing.

After students have interviewed, observed, and read about their topics to answer the 5 W's, they are ready to write their news stories.

Present the tip and example for creating a lead. Then have them write their leads. Next, show them the tips and examples for writing the main part and the ending. Have them create these parts as well.

Afterward, have students revise their work by underlining answers to each of the 5 W's questions. If they cannot find an answer, have them add it. If the answer they find is not clear, have them rework it.

Finally, have students check the spellings of all names in their news stories. Then publish student stories together in a classroom newspaper.

Page 130 from Write on Track

Human-interest story.

Help students understand that newspapers and Web sites feature different types of stories. Human-interest stories focus on topics that touch people's emotions.

Have volunteers read each paragraph in the sample story. Then lead a discussion of the story, using the side notes to prompt questions: "What make the lead catchy?" "Give some examples of interesting details." "What makes the ending fun?"

Page 131 from Write on Track

Letter to the editor.

Help students know that some "stories" in newspapers and Web sites are actually trying to persuade them to agree with a position or take action for a cause. Editorials are persuasive articles written by the editors. Letters to the editor are persuasive articles written by readers.

Have volunteers read the example letter to the editor. Show how the student starts by expressing an opinion, then gives the main facts, and ends with a call to action.

If you have students write letters to the editor of a local paper, have them use the same basic format.

• 01 Understanding Writing
• 02 One Writer's Process
• 03 Qualities of Writing
• 04 Selecting a Topic
• 05 Collecting Details
• 06 Writing a First Draft
• 07 Revising and Editing
• 08 Publishing Your Writing
• 09 Writing Basic Sentences
• 10 Combining Sentences
• 11 Writing Paragraphs
• 12 Understanding Text Structures
• 13 Writing in Journals and Logs
• 14 Writing Lists
• 15 Making Albums
• 16 Writing Notes and Emails
• 17 Writing Friendly Letters
• 18 Writing Personal Narratives
• 19 Writing Family Stories
• 20 Writing Realistic Stories
• 21 Writing Time-Travel Fantasies
• 22 Writing Tall Tales
• 23 Writing Alphabet Books
• 24 How-To Writing
• 25 Writing Information Essays
• 27 Writing Persuasive Essays
• 28 Writing Opinion Letters
• 29 Writing Book Reviews
• 30 Making Bookmarks
• 31 Writing Classroom Reports
• 32 Writing Summaries
• 33 Writing Photo Essays
• 34 Writing Free-Verse Poetry
• 35 Traditional and Playful Poetry
• 36 Writing Plays
• 37 Using the Library
• 38 Using Technology
• 39 Reading to Understand Fiction
• 40 Reading to Understand Nonfiction
• 41 Reading Graphics
• 42 Reading New Words
• 43 Building Vocabulary Skills
• 44 Using Prefixes, Suffixes, Roots
• 45 Becoming a Better Speller
• 46 Learning to View
• 47 Giving Speeches
• 48 Performing Poems
• 49 Telling Stories
• 50 Learning to Interview
• 51 Listening to Learn
• 52 Using Graphic Organizers
• 53 Thinking Clearly
• 54 Thinking Creatively
• 55 Completing Assignments
• 56 Working in Groups
• 57 Taking Tests
• 58 Proofreader's Guide
• 59 Student Almanac

Give Students a Voice: How to Start a School Newspaper

As the brand new school year has begun, many students are now finding ways to make an impact in their school community. Whether that be enrolling in leadership-based classes, volunteering at school events, or joining clubs that help charity, students often look for ways to apply their interests to the bigger picture. One of the most powerful ways that students can make a direct impact within their school’s community is writing for their school newspaper.

School publications help to keep the school community informed on different events within the school, give insight on issues that concern youth, and provide a platform for students to share their opinions. Some schools have established newspapers that are run as credit classes while others have newspapers that are run in a club format. However, some schools have no newspaper at all.

Fuzzable, being a team that consists of many young writers from around the world, is excited to begin a three-part series called Give Students a Voice , articles to share insight on how to begin, create, and develop a school newspaper in order to give students the opportunity to amplify their voices. This article focuses on the process of the newspaper startup.

Before going ahead with any big actions, it is important to get all personal thoughts in check and create a rough plan. There is no need to flesh out all of the details, but it is important to figure out the basic idea of what your paper will entail. Ask yourself some questions: do you want to run a hard-copy paper, a digital paper, or a combination of both? What kinds of stories do you want to publish? Will the paper only be about school news or will it talk about local and world issues too? How will the publishing process work? Will the paper need funding and if so, what are some ways to obtain that money? It’s good to brainstorm various answers to these questions before moving to the next steps that involve persuading others to get on board with the publication. 

Take Initiative

The first step to creating any club or organization at school is taking initiative. Depending on the structure of your school, there may be a specific teacher or counselor in charge of approving clubs, or there may be a requirement to talk to administration. Book an appointment to speak with the respective person at your school to talk about the creation of a school newspaper. Come prepared with the notes you created during your brainstorming process and be ready to answer questions you may be asked. Act professional and be willing to take ideas from others. You may be asked to book a followup meeting once you have all the ideas finalized or before you publish your first paper, so take time to make progress between appointments. 

Find an Adviser

While not always necessary, having a newspaper adviser can be a great deal of help to students running their first newspaper. Some schools require all clubs to have a teacher sponsor, in which case, having an adviser is unavoidable. However, other schools may let the students run the paper independently. A fully student-run paper has its benefits, but can get difficult when it comes to using school computers and programs, printing paper copies, and using school funding. For this reason, finding a teacher sponsor could be the key to success. While there are many people who may be willing to assist with the publication, it is typically those who work in the English department, information technology department, or library who take special interest in newspaper advising. Check in these places, and if you have a teacher who you are already close with in these areas, it would not hurt to ask them first.

Build a Team

The final step in preparing to launch a school newspaper is to build a team. Use school-based marketing strategies such as word of mouth, posters, and PA announcements to recruit members. If possible, it is also useful to make personal door-to-door announcements in English classes so that students have the opportunity to meet and ask you questions face-to-face. If there are any people who you think would be particularly interested in joining the paper, do not be afraid to seek them out specifically by sending them a message on social media. Once you create a team of people, set a first meeting where everybody can meet and talk about what they hope to get out of the newspaper this year. Make the environment welcoming and one of open communication from the beginning. Bringing snacks is always a good strategy too. 

These are the first steps in implementing a school newspaper. From here, the next steps will involve putting together a first edition and developing strategies to make the publication shine. 

Are you planning to take part in a school newspaper this year? Tweet us @Fuzzable to let us know and be sure to give the account a follow so you’ll know when the next article in the Give Students a Voice series is published. 

Written by Kendra Seguin

Aspiring journalist and Price is Right contestant.

Instagram: @kendraseguin Nail Art Instagram: @kendranailingit

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How to Set Up an Online School Newspaper

When this fifth-grade teacher shifted his school newspaper online, he found that students were motivated to produce high-quality work for an authentic audience—and felt more connected as a community.

Like teachers around the country, I enjoy setting up those special events and activities that make kids want to come to school, and I’ve found that it’s hard to run clubs, conduct sports tournaments, and host talent shows out of my den–turned–virtual classroom. It hasn’t been easy telling the students over Zoom that many of these won’t happen. But how could I tell my amazing fifth-grade journalists that the Dolphin Splash Newspaper Club had to take a break too?

Fortunately, I discovered that I could keep my school newspaper running safely and easily, and the results have been awesome.

An Adaptable Medium—With Many Benefits

Our virtual newspaper became an accessible online location for students to publish their writing—and read work by their peers. It gave them a chance to have their voices heard on topics they really wanted to discuss in a way that felt very much like our physical school newspaper. It also allowed students with various passions and learning styles a chance to shine.

For example, one student wanted to continue her commitment to others, so she began an advice column . Liliana needed an outlet to share her feelings about quarantine , so she wrote op-eds about wearing masks and staying safe. Mauricio, from my colleague’s class, updated a popular column called “ Random Facts .”

The virtual newspaper helped me teach my students literacy in a more practical way, too. I was able to change settings to approve comments, teach the concept of audience, and even create a how-to guide for readers and writers. And because the students were engaging authentically with their friends, they were motivated to learn editing skills.

Important Dos and Don’ts for a Virtual Newspaper

Nothing on a computer these days feels entirely without risk, especially for teachers and students. However, I learned a few things that helped me feel comfortable with the process.

• Meet weekly with your student writers and editors. Our club usually meets for 30 minutes to discuss ideas. I have found that the more agency kids feel over their choice of content, the more it was read. Most contributions to the newspaper begin as class writing projects, so there is minimal extra editing on my part. You can also extend invitations to students and teachers outside your grade. This helps make the newspaper feel like a part of the school community.
• Check the site’s controls to make sure your filters are working in regard to unwelcome comments, etc. This may seem off-putting at first, but remember to get a little help from your friends. I have a group of four trustworthy student editors with eyesight better than an eagle’s. Once our tailored digital literacy guide made the expectations clear, I noticed that student comments were very encouraging.
• Make certain that you have administrator approval and that your school has a universal permission form for internet usage and content. If not, make certain that all submissions have been vetted by the student’s teacher for permission.
• Allow comments without approval or keep the platform public. Remember that if you publish the newspaper on a website, it will be accessible as a URL, and that may feel a bit scary at first. Keep in mind, though, that you control the site and who can comment.
• Use students’ last names or profile pictures in case the site is found through a secondary link by someone you are not familiar with.

For me, the biggest safety issue was resolved by allowing students to discuss and access the paper through links I made available only to their teachers.

How to Get Your Newspaper Up and Running

I’m sure there are a lot of ways you could tailor a virtual newspaper to your virtual class. Many colleagues I know use platforms like Padlet . I wanted something a bit more suited to our ongoing themes, so I started with a blog-based platform. I recommend WordPress and Wix for their ease and safety controls.

All in all, I found these platforms about as easy to use as Google Classroom. If you aren’t sure how to get started, there are many tutorial videos on YouTube (such as this one for WordPress ). You may be surprised by how much fun it can be—and how quickly you’ll learn.

Once you pick the platform you wish to use:

1. Choose a template or design, and set your controls.

2. Work with students to design it. (Trust me, this is the fun part) Most templates will allow you to create pages for different types of posts or categories of articles.

3. Post work and share links with other classes.

4. Send invitations to the weekly meeting, and solicit work from writers and teachers in different classrooms. You’ll be able to give multiple editor permissions if other educators want to help.

• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Create a School Newspaper in Elementary School

Last Updated: June 20, 2022 References

This article was co-authored by Alicia Oglesby . Alicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 180,283 times.

School newspapers are a great way for elementary school students to learn about teamwork and time management while developing literacy skills. With a small budget, basic computer skills, and some creativity, you can help your students write and publish their very own newspaper. Students will build confidence, and parents will have a valuable record of their children’s creative talents.

Planning Your Paper

• There are many online printing services that specialize in school newspapers. Your local newspaper may also be willing to give you a deal on printing.

• A quick Internet search should give you an idea of what each item will cost. Many of these materials may already be available for use at your school, but you may have to pay for supplies that you will run out of, such as paper and ink cartridges.
• Brainstorm ideas for fundraising, such as bake sales, pizza parties, and selling ads in your newspaper.

• Talk about how working on a school newspaper benefits students: building confidence and leadership skills, encouraging teamwork, and making reading and writing fun.
• Tell them what your estimated budget is, and share your ideas for fundraising. There may be funding available in the school budget to cover your costs, but you should be prepared to cooperate with the principal and school board in determining how much funding you’ll receive.

• Local businesses may be interested in sponsoring your newspaper, especially if you put their name or logo in the paper.
• Once you have a newspaper staff, plan on involving them in fundraising activities. It will be educational for them, and donors may be likelier to give when the students are actively participating.
• Consider selling ads in your paper. Students will most likely share the paper with their parents, which can provide quite an audience for businesses. However, be aware that this will require an ongoing investment of time and effort on your part.

Getting Students Involved

• Depending on the age of the students, it may be useful to have an “editor-in-chief” who helps oversee the other students’ work, with a teacher’s guidance. [2] X Research source
• If you’re having trouble getting enough students to sign up, ask teachers to nominate students from their class who they feel would be well suited to the available positions.

• Start by deciding what sections will go in your newspaper. You can follow a regular newspaper format - sports, entertainment, weather, etc. Not every story has to be “news” - for instance, students can draw their favorite athlete for the sports section, or write about the hottest day they can remember for the weather section.
• Bringing in a real newspaper, or an example of another high-quality student newsletter, will help give students ideas about what sort of stories they want to write.
• Encourage students to think about what makes a story “newsworthy” - what would they want to read? What recent events at school could they write a story about?

Publishing Your First Issue

• Students interested in art can be assigned to edit and design the layout of the paper using the template you chose.

• Be sure each student is clear on what’s expected of them, including deadlines and word counts. Give a rough draft deadline as well as a final draft deadline, so there will be time to edit and correct the rough draft.
• If students are not yet skilled enough at typing, it may be faster for them to handwrite articles. Handwritten articles can either be typed up by a teacher or older staff member, or scanned in as is for a more personal, less formal-looking newspaper.

• If your newspaper staff includes editors or an editor-in-chief, work with them to proofread the paper and decide on any changes.

• Print at least a few days before you plan to distribute, in case you run into any problems or delays with printing.

Community Q&A

• Children love seeing their name in print. To encourage readership, focus the newspaper content on the students themselves and try to include as many children as possible. [8] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Pictures will make the newspaper more attractive and fun, especially for younger readers. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.makemynewspaper.com/how-to-start-a-school-newspaper
• ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/teacher-blog/2013/jan/02/setting-up-student-newspaper
• ↑ https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-set-online-school-newspaper
• ↑ https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Creating-A-Classroom-Newspaper.pdf
• ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/campus-overload/post/tons-of-advice-for-student-newspaper-editors-and-blog-editors-too/2012/09/10/47921f26-fb52-11e1-b2af-1f7d12fe907a_blog.html?utm_term=.9210be304395
• ↑ https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/08/05/family-involvement-and-childrens-literacy
• ↑ http://www.makemynewspaper.com/why-elementary-schools-should-start-a-newspaper

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If you have a class filled with newshounds eager to write their own front-page stories about classroom events or the latest happenings in the cafeteria, Scholastic Teachables has you covered with ready-to-go resources for your young journalists.

These 5 resources will help students in grades 3–5 learn about the newswriting process and how to add descriptive elements that will engage readers. Not only will they learn how to write a news article, students will also learn important content-area vocabulary that gives new meaning to words like  dummy ,  bleeds , and  widow . Before you know it, your classroom will be a busy newsroom filled with young reporters looking to break the next big story!

1.     Newspaper Writing: Narrative Learning Center

This  narrative learning center  specifically designed for newspaper writing helps students report facts and write a compelling news story that will engage their readers. The printable includes an introductory lesson, student directions, model writing samples, graphic organizers, differentiation tips, and an assessment rubric.

2.     Newspaper Article: Leveled Graphic Organizers

This lesson with  tiered graphic organizers  will help your cub reporters and front-page newshounds learn the basics of news writing. Students will write a news article that opens with a lead, includes who, what, when, where, and why, and presents details in the body of the story.

3.     Newspaper Jargon: Grade 4 Vocabulary

To be true news writers, students need to know the industry jargon. This  vocabulary packet  teaches students what words like  bleeds ,  dummy , and  stringer  commonly mean in newsrooms.

4.     The Daily News: Language Arts Bulletin Board

This  bulletin board  resource not only turns your classroom into a newsroom, it also helps students develop the speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills they need to run it effectively. 

5.     Plenty of Plastic: Grade 5 Opinion Writing Lesson

Every respected newspaper has a robust editorial section. This  writing lesson  helps create persuasive opinion writers by encouraging students to take a written stance for or against plastic bags.

Scholastic Teachables helps teachers like you build the next generation of journalists and newshounds. Even better, these teaching materials are ready to go, saving you time when you need it most during the school year. The printables are free to subscribers of Scholastic Teachables or are available for individual purchase.  Log in or subscribe today  for teaching tools to help your students write news articles that can make a difference in your classroom, school, and community!

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A List of Interesting Editorial Topics for High School Students

These days, being the editor of the school newspaper is a very coveted position to have. But coming up with editorial topics on a regular basis is not very easy, even if it's just for a high school newspaper. Choose a subject that you're familiar with; something that you know the inside out of, so that you can provide an in-depth analysis of the same.

These days, being the editor of the school newspaper is a very coveted position to have. But coming up with editorial topics on a regular basis is not very easy, even if it’s just for a high school newspaper. Choose a subject that you’re familiar with; something that you know the inside out of, so that you can provide an in-depth analysis of the same.

Whether it is for the school newspaper, or as a part of an assignment, writing editorials is a great activity. Not only does it help students develop writing skills, but also helps them develop their own point of view about the subject at hand. They learn to go beyond rote learning and understand their study material rather than simply reading through the same―it therefore helps them develop their own style of thinking and reproducing their thoughts on the matter. It also hones the skill of creative writing and essay writing in students, and helps them consider a career involving the same in the future.

Basics of an Editorial

There are some basic things to keep in mind while writing an editorial. First of all, it is not a report. A person writing an editorial is not expected to just state the facts and be done with it. An editorial is an analysis, it is an in-depth study of a topic. A person writing an editorial is also expected to come up with an opinion based on the facts and its analysis. But it is essential that the person writing an editorial is not biased in his opinion and gives an all-round judgment on the topic. An editor should always keep one thing in mind―an editorial is an analysis, not an endorsement.

Editorial Topics for High School Students

The first step in assigning editorial topics is that you have to remember that they are still quite young and should be asked to write about simple, non-controversial topics which will also help in their daily studies. You could frame the editorial topics around their curriculum, so that they can write about the topics which are relevant to them.

Current Affairs and Hot Topics for Editorials

The most common editorial topics to write about are those that pertain to current events. Along with testing the writing and analytical skills of the students, it also keeps the students up-to-date with what is going on in the country. The topics can include current political, legal, or sports events. Here are some interesting editorial topics that focus on current affairs.

♦ Global warming effects on earth ♦ The causes of, symptoms and treatment for swine flu ♦ The ways recycling affects our environment ♦ What caused the subprime crisis? ♦ Should gay marriages be allowed? ♦ Should gambling be outlawed? ♦ Should capital punishment be allowed? ♦ NBA season review (or preview) ♦ Major league season review (or preview) ♦ Should marijuana be legalized? ♦ Should cigarettes be banned? ♦ How necessary is a college education?

Editorials on Significant Past Events

Another set of topics for editorials could be related to historical events. This helps them get a first-hand insight into what America was, rather than telling them about it. Secondly, it improves their knowledge of history.

♦ The Boston Tea Party ♦ Are we living up to the America envisioned by the founding fathers? ♦ History of blacks in America

Editorials on Thought-provoking Issues

There are some editorial topic ideas that were and will always remain the pet peeves of editors due to their controversial nature. These topics are such that each one of us wants to have our say on them.

♦ Darwinism Vs. Creationism ♦ God Vs. Science ♦ Is euthanasia immoral? ♦ Does wealth translate to happiness? ♦ Do people complain too much? ♦ How long should you wait in an establishment without buying anything? ♦ The impact of Latin Americans as the largest minority in the US

Editorials Topics From the World of Teenagers

These editorial topics for high school students are especially formulated keeping this generation in mind, and are a part and parcel of the everyday life of high school students. Hence it will be good for them to sound their opinion on these topics.

♦ Benefits of Reading ♦ Is there such a thing as an Instagram addict? ♦ Importance (or evils) of social networking websites ♦ The flip-side of television ♦ Is the PSP contributing to the death of outdoor games? ♦ How fast foods are making us a fatter country ♦ Does parental pressure play a role in career choices?

Some Interesting Editorial Topics

And for those with a real flair for writing and an abstract thinking ability, here are some editorial topics that you can choose to write on.

Apart from these, you can also write about topics like biographies of famous people, book reviews, etc. Editorial writing is a fun experience which also develops your thinking ability. It also helps one find his niche. For example, while writing editorials, you might realize that journalism is what you wanted to do all along. Writing an editorial is a fun and knowledge enhancing experience, all at the same time.

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94 Newspaper Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best newspaper topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 simple & easy newspaper essay titles, 👍 good research topics about newspaper, 📌 most interesting newspaper topics to write about.

• Raw Materials for Newspaper Manufacturing Resins bind other components of the ink and form a film for binding the ink and the paper. Transportation of wood, paper fiber, and ink is also necessary to deliver the raw material to the […]
• War and Violence Metaphors in Newspaper Headlines For both purposes, the use of metaphorical language in headlines is crucial to catch the people’s attention and to trigger a chain of association that will direct the readers’ focus to a particular side of […]
• Newspaper Article Analysis The topic can make one to believe that there is a certain group trying to overthrow the government in place but, this is not the case.
• Newspaper Industry and the Internet Most of the readers are now finding the news in newspapers somewhat stale considering that the news on the internet is instant, fresh and immediate.
• Newspapers, Books, Magazines as Media Forms The aim of the current research is to analyze the role of the media and assess the importance of newspapers, books, and magazines as media forms.
• Newspaper Collection and General Recycling GR has a higher responsibility for quality due to the specifics of the general disposal and specifies the quantity and class of the material before collection.
• Local Newspaper and Its Social Media Advertising The exploration of the role of advertising on the Internet in the process of raising the profitability of the company contributes to a better understanding of the mechanism used by the World Wide Web for […]
• Ideologies in Newspaper Writing On the contrary, ideology is linked to the ruling system since the distortion implicated on the ideology reflects the interest of the rulers.
• Newspaper Article and Scientific Research: Comparison The text of the research article is obviously not so easy to read compared to the text from the New York Post.
• Newspaper Readership Decline Factors Basing on the apparent trends of newspaper readership, the media systems predict that the future of newspapers seems untenable because of the increasing decline in newspaper readership.
• Media Convergence and Newspaper Publication The convergence of media that resulted in the digitized form of The New York Times and Washington Post is the testament to the power of Information Technology and the changing needs of people. In this […]
• A Healthcare Study in the Vancouver Sun Newspaper The independent variable was the participants’ cannabis use, and the objective/subjective factors were the effectiveness of sleep, the rapidity of falling asleep, and the number of awakenings at night.
• Newspaper Coverage of Adolf Hitler’s Death It marks the end of the era of the terrible events of the Holocaust, the seizure of Poland, the extermination of millions of people.
• Research of Lifespan in Newspaper The major focus of the study was to identify the cities with the shortest rate of life duration. The researchers used the observational research method and qualitative research design as they gathered the data from […]
• Addressing Several Law Cases and a Newspaper Article For instance, the teleological approach suggests that the decision of the Nevada Supreme Court was reasonable and rightful because it was the best option to bring the highest level of good and the least level […]
• Newspaper Press Apogee in the Early 20th Century The development of more effective and quick printing methods resulted in the rise of the use of newspapers all over the world and the newspaper press was at all times prepared to capture any events […]
• Muslim Women’s Representation in America in Newspapers This article is devoted to studying statistics that link various areas of the lives of Muslim women and their employment in America.
• Biases and Sources in Newspaper Articles About the Coronavirus The coronavirus is unpredictable and hard to control, and people have to cooperate, communicate, and exchange available information to predict the growth of complications and health-related problems.
• “Westside Today” and “Gazette Newspapers”: Comparative Characteristics The popularity of newspapers depends on the predominance of certain groups in the area, the values that have established themselves in that particular community and the ability of the newspaper to interest the reader by […]
• Internet Impact on Journalism: Print vs. Online Newspapers The purpose of the investigation is to examine the impact of the Internet on journalism with the help of analyzing the role of print newspapers, online newspapers, and social networking in presenting the information and […]
• Newspaper Interpretations of Dred Scott vs. Sanford In retrospect, it is obvious that Northern anti-slavery interpretations of the Dred Scott decision were much more accurate than Southern pro-slavery interpretations.
• Fabricating Facts in a Daily Newspaper As the chief editor of a large metropolitan daily newspaper, one is entitled to explaining to the audience the various roles of the media in the society and its capacity of information coverage in all […]
• Past Newspaper Articles Analysis: The New York Times In comparison to the previous stories published 100 years ago, New York Times has a habit of making the chaotic and the most important issues, headlines.
• Newspapers: Commercialism and Information It is by virtue of this final that it comes evident the lack of government’s support in terms of subsidies to the press in the current regarded capitalist system full of democracy but only makes […]
• Internet and Traditional Newspaper Industry First of all, in order to understand the major tendencies in changing media popularity, it is necessary to look at the differences in technological processes of news production on the Web and in traditional newspapers.
• Newspaper Accounts of First Nations People As the article is overloaded with details, one can assume that the author intentionally directs the reader’s attention to the industriousness with which the entities of judicial and executive power have been trying to keep […]
• News Nowadays: Digitalization of Newspapers However, the digitalization of the newspapers has adversely impacted the quality of news, as it has led to the rise of fake news.
• Leadership at The New York Times Newspaper Wisdom comes in handy when the leader is balancing the interests of shareholders such that the leader’s actions lead to the common good.
• How to Identify and Locate a Newspaper in E- Databases? The results showed that a search statement consisting of three concepts, features of the search databases, and the use of basic and advanced searches consisting of ley words, concatenated words, and indexing were necessary to […]
• Jonesboro Newspaper’s Budget and Cash Flow A budget enables an individual to forecast the amount of money to be realized upon the execution of a given undertaking. A part of the income from the company will be used to cater for […]
• Macroeconomics in 2010 Newspaper Articles The article has its basis on the recent global financial crisis, which started in the United States and spread to other parts of the world.
• Alzheimer’s Disease in Newspaper Articles The number of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and diabetes in the United States, and indeed globally, has increased significantly in the last few years. This means that the main interest of such collaboration is to […]
• Portrayal of Ernesto Che Guevara by American Newspapers In his article, Llosa remarks that people do not know the real character of Guevara’s actions and therefore “cling to a myth”.
• Chernobyl Disaster in New York Newspapers Still, media statements from 1986, and especially the day of the initial report, can be considered the first reaction of the media to the accident.
• Newspaper Industry and Its Challenges Nowadays, the majority of researchers who are concerned about the problem of the dissemination of information in the modern world acknowledge that news organizations are having significant financial troubles related to changes on a global […]
• Financial Times Newspaper Brand Marketing The Financial Times is a British newspaper that is published in London that primarily focuses on the financial market in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.
• Newspapers’ Discussion: School Desegregation In spite of the fact that many newspaper authors covered the school desegregation events rather subjectively, the approaches to discussing the process of school desegregation in the American states are different in relation to the […]
• Newspaper Report and TV Report: Comparison and Contrast Conversely, the audience relates to the story through the tone of voice of the reporter as well as the appearance of the characters in the TV report.
• Newspapers Are Under Attack From The Net. What Strategies Might Be Followed To Survive? The way to go for the newspapers is to provide the detailed facts that blogs and short articles on the internet do not provide.
• Constitutional Rights for Campus Newspaper Editors The code of conduct should always be in line with the provisions in the constitution of the country especially in areas where the rights of the students are likely to be affected or are threatened.
• Michigan Newspapers’ Biased Coverage of Jewish Persecution in Germany In the period of 1933-1939, which encompasses Hitler’s rise to power that saw a sustained persecution of Jews in Germany and the pogroms, which culminated in the Night of The Broken Glass, the reception of […]
• The Decline of Newspapers in the US The decline of newspapers in the US is attributed to decrease in readership of newspaper across the country. The increasing economic challenges experienced by newspaper companies have made the prices of their stocks to decline, […]
• Printed Newspapers in US This paper looks at the characteristics of the target market that could be the reason, highlights the author’s reasons to believe that this product is declining in appeal, makes recommendations, and discusses a turnaround strategy.
• The Newspaper Publishing Industry in Australia The fate of newspaper publishing industry across the world and in Australia continues to be unknown. Demographic segmentation enables the industry to succeed in formulating products and services that cater for the needs of customers.
• Product Repositioning in a Newspaper A research may be carried out to ascertain what percentage of the population still buys a newspaper and the reason for doing that. It is crucial to keep a database of the places to deliver […]
• Nepean Barrhaven EMC: Newspaper Analysis Reading this issue of the newspaper, it is possible to guess that the editor and the authors of the articles pay special attention to the health of the community.
• Unemployment, Labor, and Government Economic Forces The article, “The State of Economics”, is an article that discusses the turmoil between economists of the current age in trying to reconcile economic principles with both the classical and Keynesian economic theories of the […]
• Newspaper Response on Buddhism Finally, the author estimates that harmony is the “essential ingredient” of all religions and it is a guarantee of the welfare of all nations.
• The Newspaper Critic on Gender Inequalities in Canada Jasmeet Sidhu says in his article in the Star ‘Gender inequality distorts Politics,’ that since Canada elected Agnes MacPhail into the House of Commons in 1921, the country has made major steps in bridging the […]
• Newspaper Reactions to Brown V. Board of Education It is therefore incorrect to note that the difference in Newspaper reaction to the Brown V. Board of education case was a representation of the difference in opinion between the Southern states and other states.
• Solution for the Decline of Circulation of Newspaper
• Goodwill Hunting and Profit Sharing: Decision-Making in a Newspaper Chain
• Prices and Network Eects in Two-Sided Markets: the Belgian Newspaper Industry
• The Main Issues Involving the Ownership of The Canadian Newspaper Industry
• Early Colonial Era Newspaper Accounts of Conflicts, Disease, and Westward Expansion
• What Effect Does Online News Edition Have on Printed Newspaper
• Printted Newspaper vs. Online Newspapers
• The Argument Between the Communitarians and Liberals in the Newspaper Article The American Prospect Online
• How Internet Affects The Newspaper Business
• Difference Between Internet Advertising and Newspaper Advertising
• Predicting Bitcoin Returns: Comparing the Roles of Newspaper- and Internet Search-Based Measures of Uncertainty
• External Environment Analysis For The Newspaper Industry
• Newspaper Reading and Relating to the Human Bill of Rights
• Sensationalism, Newspaper Profits and the Marginal Value of Watergate
• How the Newspaper and Music Industry Has Changed Because of E-Commerce
• Various Analysis Tools Applied to The Newspaper Industry
• Circulations, Revenues, and Profits in a Newspaper Market with Fixed Advertising Costs
• Uses and Gratification: Nigerian Students Use of Newspaper
• Damaging Sexual Stereotypes about Women in TV and Newspaper Ads
• Gender Stereotypes and the Credibility of Newspaper Articles Associated
• Newspaper Differentiation and Investments in Journalism: The Role of Tax Policy
• Meet the Press: How Voters and Politicians Respond to Newspaper Entry and Exit
• Modernism: Newspaper and Miss Representation
• Media Bias and Influence: Evidence from Newspaper Endorsements
• Lexical Features Structure Features and Rhetorical Devices of English Newspaper
• The Newspaper Industry’s Contribution to the Economy
• Newspaper Reading Habbit Among School Teachers
• Using Newspaper Magazine Articles Online Databases Strayer Learning Resources
• Newspaper: How Did the American Newspapers Report on Events Taking Place in Europe During the Holocaust
• Newspaper Journalism During The Revolutionary War
• Why The Newspaper Companies Are Suffering From Decline
• The Real Estate Section of the Local Newspaper
• The Newspaper Industry and the Changes in the Last 20 Years
• Legal and Economic Aspects in Theft of Newspapers: Using a Model of Newspaper Value
• Daily Newspaper Advertising Rates, Local Media Cross-Ownership, Newspaper Chains, and Media Competition
• The Scotsman and The Guardian: Which Newspaper Is Better
• Scale Economics, Market Power, and Pricing Behavior Evidence from German Newspaper and Magazine Publishing
• The Early Twentieth Century’s Immigration and the Newspaper Jobs
• Utilizing Newspaper Advertise Women Advertisements Society
• Fracking and Metaphor: Analysing Newspaper Discourse in the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom
• Online Community Essay Topics
• Media Bias Questions
• Information Management Paper Topics
• Mobile Technology Paper Topics
• Computers Essay Ideas
• Media Ethics Titles
• Satire Essay Ideas
• Media Analysis Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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7 Steps to Starting a School Newspaper

Helly Douglas

Starting a school newspaper is a mix of headache and opportunity. There’s so much for you to decide. From getting the right team to organizing distribution, there’s lots to do.

A successful school newspaper shouldn’t be a significant increase to your teacher workload, although it will take lots of organising at the start. Done right, you’ll be able to facilitate with a light touch, rather than feel you’ve been lumbered with an unwanted second career.

So where to start? This simple guide shares seven essentials you need to get your school newspaper up and running.

Tip 1: Find Your Team

Tip 2: get the organization right, tip 3: plan regular meetings, tip 4: teach your students essential writing skills, tip 5: create a shared code of values, tip 6: show your students writing role models, tip 7: promote your school newspaper, moving forward.

Being in the newspaper team should be a privilege, not a punishment.

Avoid making it a compulsory club, something for students to stick on their CV, or a project a year group must complete.

Send out an advert asking for specific applications for each individual role. Share a simple job description so students with different interests will see the potential options. Offer interviews, just as you would with an actual job.

When you’re recruiting, watch out for these three types of students you want on your team:

The Writers

Ask any teacher in your school, and they’ll name a handful of budding writers in their class. These keen students will form the lifeblood of your newspaper and relish the freedom to write for a real purpose. Invite them to interview for a role.

Make sure some students aren’t put off by their low literacy skills. Newspapers aren’t full of flowery prose, which will suit many less confident writers.

The Inspiration

A newspaper is much more than just good writing, although this is essential. Look for students with a keen interest in improving the school. The ones that volunteer to be in a student council, or to be prefects.

They will enjoy making a difference through raising topical issues and pushing for positive change. Just make sure they’re not over-stretching themselves by volunteering for everything.

The Organisers

Don’t forget that a newspaper takes a lot of organizing. You don’t want to spend your evenings doing all the work.

Students with good organisation and leadership skills are great for editor and subeditor roles. They can commission the work and chase late submissions to reduce last minute panic before publication.

Now you’ve handpicked the perfect team, let them decide the name of the newspaper. From the start, you want them to have as much ownership as possible. Let the age of the students determine how much involvement you must have.

Help them plan how they will run the newspaper. They will need to consider:

• How long it will be (encourage them to make it manageable – they can always expand later)
• Whether it will it be a print paper, digital, or a mixture of both
• How often it will be published
• Who is in charge of each area/ section
• Who has overall responsibility for each edition (you could use a rota)

Choose the style elements everyone will use (called a style guide ) to avoid students wasting lots of time playing with fonts and formatting. This means all articles will feel like they are part of the same newspaper.

It’s a good idea to join your students for their meetings to oversee what they plan to include in each edition. They’ll need support to agree details like deadlines for submission and who is responsible for what. Offer to take the minutes for them so they have a record of their final decisions.

Rather than wasting lots of time thinking of new ideas in the meeting, ask them to come prepared. Offer an incentive, like merit points, to help them remember. Use a planning template, like this one from First News , to help them organize their ideas efficiently.

Writing a newspaper article is more than just reporting facts. Before your students write their first edition, teach them what they should aim for. Look at the structure of real news articles to unpick how they are organized.

This YouTube video is a great resource to help them master the basics:

Give your students a revision sheet with essential vocabulary and a brief explanation of what each word means. Offer a writing frame with question prompts they can use to help structure their work.

Don’t forget they must edit and proofread too. Show them how ProWritingAid can help them learn how to write effectively as well as check for basic spelling and grammar mistakes.

The in-app articles, quizzes and videos will make writing for the newspaper a fun way to learn more about writing well. Read to the end to find out more about how you can use ProWritingAid in the classroom.

A school newspaper should be a positive force for change and improvement, reflecting the interests of the students. What you don’t want are pages of gossip.

Discuss ethics and create a code of conduct all writers must adhere to. This should include appropriate language and a definition of slander. Remind students that their newspaper represents the school and will be seen by the head teacher, governing body, and parents, as well as other students.

It’s your responsibility to make sure all contributions are appropriate, honest, and legal. Teach your students about fact checking and plagiarism . Discuss rules around the use of images. Most students will be unaware that they can’t just use Google image searches . Introduce them to sites like Pexels and UnSplash to find free images.

Your newspaper offers a potential career path for your budding journalists. Approach your local newspaper to see if a journalist would be interested in becoming a mentor figure. Organise special events like virtual Q+A sessions or visit your local newspaper offices to inspire your students.

Use social media to find journalists with an interest in promoting young talent. Keep your school library well-stocked with newspapers written for children. Many offer resources to use in school that will help improve the quality of your newspaper.

Once you’re ready to publish the newspaper, think about how you can distribute it to the widest audience. Could you share it on the school website or through social media? Will copies be sent home for parents and added to the school library?

Make your school newspaper important to everyone. Every class could have a set time to read it together. Mention it in assemblies and give copies out to prospective parents and visitors. The more the students see that staff value your newspaper, the higher profile it will have.

At the end of each year, you know some of your students will leave. Don’t make any one person indispensable. You can plan for understudies to shadow key roles to train them up in plenty of time. Recruit new talent each year and host regular events to make them feel like a team.

Make being on the newspaper team something to aspire to. Give them a few perks of the job to enjoy. Feature their names (and photos if allowed) prominently next to their articles. Look for competitions you can enter to win awards.

Keep improving your newspaper by measuring reader numbers. Use surveys to evaluate what doesn’t work and make changes accordingly. A successful newspaper isn’t a static thing. It will develop to meet the needs of your school.

Final Thoughts

Starting a new school newspaper is a challenge but, once you get going, the routines will become familiar. For many students, it’s a wonderful opportunity to write for a real purpose about the things they care most about. You might even inspire some to pursue a career in journalism.

It’s essential you distance yourself from the paper. Whilst you might facilitate, you don’t want to be stuck doing all the work. The newspaper team should see you as a mentor rather than the editor. Find the students in your school who have the energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to make it work. Empower them to take the lead and create a truly student-led newspaper.

Want to use ProWritingAid with your classroom? Download this free book now:

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Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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11 Newspaper Column Ideas For Journalists

We have compiled a list of the best newspaper column ideas that will help you when you need inspiration for your next article.

When working as a reporter, current events frequently dictate your workload.

However, the ‘slow news day’ isn’t a myth, and there will be times when you are expected to use your own initiative to seek out ideas for feature stories and news articles.

Most journalists have an eye for a news story and know how to dig into trending news to gain a new scoop.

However, when it comes to more long-form content, such as columns and op-eds , inspiration is not always forthcoming, even if you’re using the best apps for journalists .

That is why we have asked one of our bloggers (who also works as a reporter) to put together a list of column ideas that may spark creativity the next time you are stumped.

1. Subjects for Newspaper Columns

2. self-help and advice columns, 3. give sports a different angle, 4. opinion on a story you’re interested in, 5. first-person technology articles, 6. read your letters to the editor and respond, 7. look to social media, 8. home and garden features, 9. consider your finances, 10. follow up on an old story, 11. write an explanatory piece on a big story, what should i write a column about, how do i make my own newspaper column.

University professor Dr. Archana Bharti  succinctly observed that “there are as many types of columns as there are different aspects of life.”

As this is true, the below is not supposed to be an in-depth guide to all you need to know about column writing but rather a brief glance over some of the ideas and subjects that may help you.

Obviously, we are not suggesting plagiarizing the articles linked below.

Rather, our hope is that the following list will inspire you to adapt your story ideas into worthwhile columns.

Self-help and advice columns are always popular in newspapers. The key to producing one of quality is to find an original niche or viewpoint.

An example of an extremely well-done self-help column would be Oliver Burkeman’s writing in The Guardian. Her work saw her investigate ‘routes to mental health and wellbeing.’ She wrote her self-help articles for over a decade, finally moving on from this work in 2020.

She wrote these articles under the title, ‘This Column Will Change Your Life,’ which created intrigue and offered a unique selling point for her work.

When it comes to writing about sports, stories usually revolve around results and games. An interesting slant on this is to take a look at how issues are progressing away from the competition.

A good example of this is Tim Dahlberg’s recent column for the Associated Press entitled ‘Ukraine’s boxers in the fight of their lives.’ Here he looked at former heavyweight champions, the Klitschko brothers, and how their lives have been affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

When it comes to op-ed  pieces, the key word  involved is ‘opinion.’ If you are not interested in a subject or story, it’s difficult to share an opinion on it.

Searching your list of interests will result in a well of resources that are unlikely to run dry.

That is as true whether you are writing for the school newspaper or the New York Times.

Your unique point of view is what makes an opinion piece interesting. It will be even better if you are writing about a subject matter in which you have a genuine interest.

This can be anything, from horoscopes to who will be the next President of the United States.

Detailing your unique reaction to new technology makes for an article that is far more interesting than a simple tech review.

By doing this, you are informing your readers, but at the same time, you are stepping outside the template that the review format provides.

Veteran tech journalist Walt Mossberg offered an example of this type of writing in his Vox column before he retired in 2017.

His articles offered more than a list of the features available on a new piece of technology; rather, he wrote a diary of how that piece of tech affected him.

Learn more about the first-person point of view .

Most local news publications have a ‘letters to the editor’ section.

If you are working for one of these newspapers, you can use this section as a treasure trove for idea generation.

Your column doesn’t necessarily have to be a direct response to one of the letters, but it can be inspired by them. These letters involve the subjects that are important to your readers, with some being responses to previous newspaper articles.

Therefore, you know that your column will be focused on a subject that your readers have a genuine interest in.

When the well is dry for columns, you should turn to one of your most valuable tools for modern news-gathering: social media.

On there, you are seeing what’s important to the people on your timeline.

At its worst, social media can be an echo chamber, which relays back the user’s views without demonstrating any balance to a discussion.

However, at its best, it can keep you informed on the personal stories that are important to your community.

It is also a platform that is constantly evolving which offers consistent opportunities for writers.

We all have our interests around the home, so why not use your creative writing nous to share some of your expertise?

If you have a good idea for an article about how to get more out of your available space  or on the best herbs to plant in the garden, then share these ideas. There is a good chance that your editor will be glad you did.

You don’t have to wait until you are the editor of your own newspaper to write about the stuff that interests you. After all, that’s what feature articles are often about.

Money and finance make for popular newspaper columns, as navigating our finances is something all of us have to do.

An interesting approach here could be to share a tip that has helped you. Alternatively, you could also write about a mistake you have made in regard to money and finance. These types of feature stories make for interesting reading.

Jessica Stillman is a writer for Inc.com , and her columns focus on what she describes as “making work life (and just life) more meaningful, joyful, and impactful.”

Her columns often have a financial slant and may be worth checking out if you’re struggling for inspiration.

A worthwhile column idea that is often ignored is to follow up on an old story.

These articles have an existing reader base, so can find a greater audience than some of the other ideas on this list.

You can take a ‘where are they now’ format or another approach is to look at how that story affected the local community in the time between then and now. This approach also works as a creative writing activity .

Not every news story is easy to digest. Some are complex and require some studying to fully understand.

If you want to become a freelance reporter but are struggling to pick a good story idea, do this work for your readers by writing an explanation piece about a popular topic in the news.

A recent example of this would be Julia Carrie Wong’s deep dive into the conspiracy theory QAnon for The US Guardian.

FAQs About Newspaper Column Ideas

As long as the subject matter is agreed upon with your editor, your newspaper column can be on any subject matter. Popular column subjects include sports, technology lifestyle, horoscopes, and current affairs.

In the words of Dr. Archana Bharti, “there are as many types of column as there are different aspects of life”.

The best way to approach this is to discuss the subject with your newspaper’s editor if you are already working there. If you are a freelance writer, firstly find a publication that you think you are a good fit for, then contact them and pitch your ideas.

Benefits of School Newspapers for Students

20 Nov, 2022

Whether you’re a keen student journalist yourself, or just looking to learn more about student culture at the universities you’re planning to apply to, student newspapers are the place to go.

We break down the benefits you’ll get if you become a student journalist at university (which can even include the heady heights of professional publication!), as well as the benefits reading student papers can bring you as a prospective student of any course.

Table of Contents

Why student papers are important

Student newspapers are (generally) run by students, for students. This means that, as well as reporting on any administrative news like changes in fee structures or the Vice-Provost’s office, they report on the social side of student life. This is where they can differ from university-issued newsletters.

Whether it’s food recommendations near your student halls, a roundup of the best evening social events or a newsblast letting you know a filming crew and celebrity have been spotted near campus, student papers can offer a lighter, more fun take on student news.

That’s not to say they avoid the harder-hitting stuff, though. If there’s a dispute about accommodation rent, representation in the faculty or senior members of staff’s wages, student papers can often offer several opinion pieces, allowing you to learn from and connect with a range of perspectives on the topic.

If you’re a prospective student, the universities you’re considering will usually give you lots of information about student life at their institutions. This can be really helpful, and is often written in collaboration with current students, but independent papers can offer less formal, more colourful impressions of life at each uni.

So, should you write for a student paper?

• Refresh your writing – Writing for a student publication ensures your penmanship skills never grow stale; take a break from the rubric for your standard university essays and try your hand at punchy, journalistic writing instead. Being able to adapt your writing style to attract different audiences will also stand you in good stead for your future career, as it improves your ability to communicate effectively with a range of people.
• Editing – Whether you become editor-in-chief of your student paper, or simply edit your own work before submitting it, the ability to improve things is invaluable. This will also improve your concision, making you a better communicator and appealing to potential employers. 
• Interviewing – Working with a student newspaper gives you the opportunity to talk to a range of people about really interesting topics. You’ll learn how to promote comfortable conversations with a wide variety of people, as well as how to ask the juiciest questions sensitively.
• Design – A student newspaper allows you to be your most creative self. Whether you want to get involved with the formatting of a print copy or draw satirical comic strips for the website, there are lots of opportunities to exercise your visual creativity.
• Variation in media – Journalism no longer revolves entirely around the paper and print; student journalism is often web-based, featuring styles like listicles and clickbait articles. You could even develop your social media management skills by looking after the paper’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Get a taste of the future

Student newspapers aren’t just an opportunity to develop your writing skills and gain experience for a career in journalism. Here are just some of the fields you’ll get experience in if you write for your university’s paper:

• Sales – Newspapers often run adverts, which means students communicate with businesses to offer advertising space. Think sales pitches, crafting invoices and fostering vital connections with the local economy.
• Administration – Students have to organise every aspect of a newspaper themselves, from the writing and the layout design to the photography and printing. You’ll learn how to delegate tasks, manage workloads fairly, and set deadlines (and meet them!). Particularly if you take on an editorial role, you’ll be surprised how much your leadership skills grow!
• Customer relations – You’re creating a product which is available to anyone from your academic institution – this means you have to be open to criticism and respond with improvement. Sure, students won’t be as harsh a critic as a professional editor, but having your cohort pick up on your poor proof-reading will make you learn from your mistakes just as quickly.
• Accounting – A student newspaper cannot run on enthusiasm alone; you’ll need to liaise with investors to raise some kind of budget. Money must be handled correctly, so your numeracy skills might need dusting off from school.

Become a vital part of the local community

Involvement in a student newspaper allows for building relationships with a variety of people. You’ll be a direct link between the student body and local events, businesses and organisations. You’ll need to maintain the trust of your readers, while holding their interest with a fine balance of serious exposés and lighthearted tabloid columns. Student journalism means you’ll be the first to know of any drama within the university and the first to deliver it to a wider audience. 

You’ll also be a trusted source for the administrative staff and university faculty; legitimate discontent felt amongst the student body will be reflected in the newspapers, which will doubtless be invaluable to the staff who wish to stay informed of the student body’s thoughts.

 How to get involved with student newspapers

So, now that you’re definitely on board with the idea of writing for a student newspaper, how do you get the ball rolling? It can seem quite a daunting prospect, especially as student newspapers often come with an impressive reputation within the community. However, joining a student publication isn’t as difficult as you might initially think. 

Most student newspapers will welcome writing samples and article suggestions from anyone, regardless of experience or subject matter. Whether it’s your first time writing any sort of article, or you’re well experienced with the art of journalism, student papers will hear what you have to say and provide you with space on a page. 

Make contact with one of the current editors and ask what opportunities there are for writing. Visit your university’s freshers’ fair and interact with the editorial team; make sure to attend any meetings they hold during the term, too. Once you’ve completed your first piece, you can start thinking about writing other articles to expand your portfolio. Writing articles also opens the door to future editorial roles within the newspaper. 

If you’re desperate to get involved but worried about a lack of writing experience, you could participate in a course designed to improve your writing skills; the writing courses for teens offered by Oxford Scholastica aims to develop your writing prowess, ensuring you can send in polished, confident content when you arrive at campus.

Next steps for future journalists, editors and writers

• Keen to join a student paper but worried about a lack of writing experience? Take a look at our Writing Summer School
• If you’re more interested in fiction, you might like to read our reasons Why Shakespeare Is Still Important
• Cherwell – A weekly student newspaper published by students of Oxford University, founded in 1920. It’s one of the oldest student publications in the UK.
• Varsity – Cambridge University’s main student newspaper, published every Friday during term time.
• Palatinate – The official student paper of Durham University, whose name is derived from the colour palatinate, a shade of purple associated with the university.
• The Student – A fortnightly published newspaper run by students at the University of Edinburgh, read by some 30,000 people in the city.
• The Courier – Student newspaper written and edited by student volunteers at Newcastle University, published in a 40-page print edition every week.

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The team at Oxford Scholastica are here to answer any questions you may have about our summer courses  or your child’s wellbeing while staying here in Oxford, or any other concerns you might have. Get in touch today!

Sunnyside residents upset over unruly grass at HISD campuses

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Sunnyside resident Travis McGee told ABC13 he's living in a jungle in his neighborhood.

That jungle is the grass at Worthing High School on Reed Road.

Tuesday morning, he and another resident met with ABC13 to voice their frustration with the unruly landscaping.

"Get the grass cut," Tyrone North said.

North and McGee are both alumni of Worthing.

The grass on campus went well past their knees as they walked around, lamenting its current state.

"It's ridiculous," North said.

Worthing High School isn't the only Houston Independent School District campus in the area with tall grass.

Eyewitness News also found it at Woodson Leadership Academy and Young Elementary.

Additionally, ABC13 received reports that the lawns of Lanier Middle School in Montrose and Fondren Elementary School in southwest Houston are also overgrown.

"They can't even maintain their current schools, and they have the audacity to ask us for a multi-billion dollar bond," McGee said, referencing district's $4.4 billion bond proposal .

Eyewitness News contacted HISD to find out if they were aware of the grass at these campuses and if the issue is indicative of cost-cutting measures or a summer mowing schedule.

That message went unreturned.

Students are currently on summer vacation, but North and McGee said the grass started to look bad while school was still in session.

"This is a school in our neighborhood that we pay our tax dollars to," North said. "The district doesn't care."

North said he offered to cut the grass at Worthing himself but was told he couldn't due to liability reasons.

It is in the City of Houston's Code of Ordinances that grass in the city must be kept at nine inches or less .

ABC13 asked Mayor John Whitmire's office if these schools would be cited for the violation.

A spokesperson said they usually don't cite other government agencies, but could work with the district to rectify the issue.

For news updates, follow Chaz Miller on Facebook , X and Instagram .

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'My high school sweetheart': U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie shares news of his wife's death

Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever, Rhonda went to Heaven. Thank you for your prayers for our family in this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/tTSWXeLCG0 — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) June 28, 2024

Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie's wife died Thursday, according to a post shared by the congressman on social media.

Thomas Massie posted the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, Friday morning, calling his wife, Rhonda Massie, his "high school sweetheart ... the smartest kindest woman I ever knew, my beautiful and wise queen forever."

The Massies were married for over 30 years.

Thomas Massie, who represents Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, also highlighted Rhonda Massie's achievements, including being named valedictorian in high school and earning a mechanical engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, who represents Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, said on social media he was saddened to hear about Rhonda Massie's passing, and he would keep Thomas Massie and his family "in his thoughts and prayers."

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rhonda Massie, the beloved wife of my friend and colleague, Thomas Massie. Rhonda's warmth, kindness, and dedication to her family and community touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. During this heartbreaking time, my… — Rep. Andy Barr (@RepAndyBarr) June 28, 2024

Republican U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, who represents Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, called Rhonda Massie an "incredible woman" and said in a post he will stand with Thomas Massie and his family "during this difficult time."

My thoughts and prayers are with @RepThomasMassie and the entire Massie family following this terrible loss. Rhonda was an incredible woman. Beth and I stand with you and your family during this difficult time. https://t.co/0Lb5Ly5lwd — Rep. Brett Guthrie (@RepGuthrie) June 28, 2024

Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer, who represents Kentucky's 1st Congressional District, said he and his wife were "deeply saddened by the news" and called Rhonda Massie "a beautiful person on the inside and out."

TJ and I are deeply saddened by the news of Rhonda Massie’s passing. Rhonda was a beautiful person both inside and out. Our hearts go out to my colleague and dear friend Thomas Massie and his entire family. https://t.co/XAlEiZaWzc — Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) June 28, 2024

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Massie and his family would be in his thoughts and prayers.

Makenze and I are asking all Kentuckians to join us in praying for @RepThomasMassie and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Massie family, their friends, and all who loved Rhonda during this difficult time. — Daniel Cameron (@DanielCameronKY) June 28, 2024

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said he and his wife were devastated to hear about Rhonda Massie's death and that Kentucky supports Massie and his family during this time.

Elaine and I are devastated to learn of the passing of Congressman Thomas Massie’s beloved wife, Rhonda. The entire Commonwealth stands behind the Massie family and holds in our prayers Thomas, their four children, and all those grieving her loss. — Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) June 28, 2024

The Kentucky State Senate Majority Caucus also posted their support on X and said their thoughts and prayers are with Massie and his family.

Our sincerest prayers for comfort and peace are with @RepThomasMassie and family upon the passing of Rhonda Massie. All of Kentucky joins in mourning the loss of a wonderful person. — KY Senate Majority (@KYSenateGOP) June 28, 2024

Some state senators also released individual statements on Rhonda Massie's death, including Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, who said Rhonda Massie was a "woman of charitable spirit, grace (and) strength."

"Rhonda's legacy of kindness and dedication will live on in the hearts of those who had the blessing of knowing her," McDaniel said in the statement. "We stand in solidarity with the Massie family, offering our support and heartfelt sympathies."

Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, said he was shocked and devastated to hear the news.

"Rhonda was a fantastic human being, and her loving marriage with Congressman Massie was among the most beautiful you could imagine," Schickel said in the statement.

Gov. Andy Beshear expressed he would keep Massie and his family in "his thoughts and prayers" and encouraged others to do the same.

Britainy and I are deeply saddened for U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie and his family at the tragic news of the passing of his wife, Rhonda. Please join us in sending prayers of peace and comfort. ^AB — Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) June 28, 2024

Thomas and Rhonda Massie had four children together and lived on a cattle farm in Kentucky.

Information has not been released about Rhonda Massie's cause of death.

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @[email protected] or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.  

• The Education Gradebook

USF St. Petersburg’s newest mental health helper is a very good boy

• Sonia A. Rao Times staff

ST. PETERSBURG — Jenny Gelin, an incoming first-year student at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, sat in the front row of student orientation. A graduate from Tampa’s Wharton High School, Gelin has never lived in a dorm and is nervous about meeting new people.

As the other 200 students trickled out of the auditorium for a break on a recent Thursday, Gelin stayed seated, questions swirling through her mind. Will everyone like me? Will I be able to make friends? What if they all think I’m annoying?

Then, she saw him.

A 62-pound, 2-year-old “goldador” — golden retriever and Labrador mix — eagerly greeting other incoming students.

That’s Snowbird, USF St. Petersburg’s newest employee. Snowbird is the school’s first and only “facility therapy dog” trained to provide comfort, emotional support and therapeutic benefits. He was sworn into the university’s police department in June, joining Bailey, a therapy K-9 at USF’s Tampa campus.

Gelin didn’t think twice about reaching out to pet Snowbird as he walked past with his handler.

“Usually, I don’t go up to people, but then I saw the dog,” Gelin said. “I was like, I don’t even care.”

Encouraging students to engage with people and events is just one benefit a comfort dog like Snowbird will bring, said Anita Sahgal, director of USF St. Petersburg’s Wellness Center and Student Accessibility Services.

She said research indicates exposure to animals elevates mood and makes people feel calmer. Sitting with an animal can shift people’s focus and help move them away from distress.

That’s especially needed now as college campuses across the nation face a mental health crisis.

Forty-one percent of college students had symptoms of depression and 36% had symptoms of anxiety disorder during the 2022-23 academic year, according to a national survey from the Healthy Minds Network, a research organization focused on adolescent and young adult mental health.

As a police dog, Snowbird will help students who are getting used to college life or are stressed during exams. He might sit in with students visiting the wellness center for counseling or victim advocacy.

He will also accompany officers when they respond to crisis calls related to mental health. Snowbird’s handler, Master Police Officer Mark Lickenfelt, said he’s seen a sharp rise in those types of calls since he started in 2006 — especially in the past five years.

Lickenfelt wants Snowbird to bridge the gap between students and law enforcement. He is going to move his office to the library or veterans center so Snowbird can be closer to students.

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“If I can help one person, that’s all that matters,” he said.

Snowbird lives with Lickenfelt, who has wanted to be a K-9 handler since he was in elementary school. It shows.

Underneath the orange police vest hanging on his office wall is Snowbird’s black crate nestled in the corner. A pile of tennis balls sits on the bookshelf. A dog bone lies on his desk next to the computer.

On his belt, he carries his gun, Taser, radio — and a small black bag of puppy treats. Lickenfelt, 51, pictures the pair retiring together, a step he expects for both of them in around a decade.

As he walked Snowbird around campus Thursday, students he passed reacted with gasps. Smiles. Selfies.

“Are you guys stressing today?” Lickenfelt asked them.

“Now that he’s here, it’s a lot better,” one student told him.

Another started researching how to register their dog as an emotional support animal to bring to the dorms.

Belen Valdivieso, a rising junior who was on campus for a summer job, has been excited about Snowbird’s arrival since she first heard about him in the fall. She misses her dog at home, a half-Yorkie, half-shih tzu rescue.

“We all need a therapy dog,” added Emily Mann, a student services librarian who said Snowbird’s presence will be just as beneficial for faculty.

Back in the auditorium, Lickenfelt explained what a therapy dog was to Gelin.

“Do you want him to give you a hug?” he asked.

Gelin nodded. Snowbird crawled onto her lap. She closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths and calmed down. Eventually, she felt ready to head out on her own and explore a club fair downstairs.

She would keep her eyes peeled for the school’s Puppy Raisers club, where students partner with local nonprofit Dogs Inc. to raise service dogs.

It’s a club she knows she wants to join now that she’s met Snowbird.

Sonia A. Rao is an education reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].

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More From Forbes

What Are Some Good Small Business Ideas For Aspiring Entrepreneurs?

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Starting a small business can be a fulfilling and lucrative journey, often driven by a desire for greater independence and control over your career. Many start their own businesses to turn their passions into an income stream, seeking the satisfaction of creating something unique and personal. Many are motivated by the potential for higher income, flexible working hours, and the ability to directly impact their community. The challenge of building and growing a business appeals to those with an entrepreneurial spirit, offering opportunities for continuous learning and innovation.

With the right idea and execution, you can turn your passion into a profitable venture . Service businesses with low overhead tend to be easier businesses to start, as they typically require less initial capital compared to product-based businesses. Product businesses often need a substantial cash outlay for inventory, manufacturing, and storage.

Service businesses can operate with minimal investment. This allows entrepreneurs to focus more on delivering high-quality services and building a client base. Examples include freelance consulting, personal training, pet care, and home cleaning services. By leveraging your skills and expertise, you can establish a successful service business that meets market demands without the financial burden of large upfront costs.

Here are some great small business ideas that cater to various interests and market demands:

1. E-commerce Store

The rise of online shopping presents a significant opportunity for entrepreneurs. You can sell products ranging from handmade crafts to unique vintage finds. Platforms like Shopify and Etsy make it easy to set up and manage your online store.

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2. Freelance Services

If you have a skill that can be offered remotely, freelancing can be a great option. Whether it's writing, graphic design, web development, or digital marketing, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr can connect you with clients worldwide.

3. Personal Fitness Trainer

With the growing emphasis on health and wellness, becoming a personal fitness trainer can be a rewarding business. You can offer one-on-one sessions, group classes, or even online coaching. Certification and building a strong online presence can help you attract clients.

4. Pet Services

The pet industry is booming. Pet owners are always looking for reliable services and supplies. Pet grooming, pet sitting, and dog walking are excellent small business ideas. You can start small and expand as you build a loyal customer base.

5. Home Cleaning Services

Busy households and businesses often require cleaning services. Starting a home cleaning business can be profitable, especially if you offer specialized services like eco-friendly cleaning or move-in/move-out cleaning.

6. Food Truck

For those with a passion for cooking, a food truck offers a flexible and relatively low-cost entry into the food industry. You can cater to various events, festivals, and busy city areas. Unique, high-quality offerings can set your food truck apart from the competition.

7. Tutoring and Educational Services

If you excel in a particular subject or skill, offering tutoring services can be a lucrative business. With the demand for personalized education rising, you can provide in-person or online tutoring. Specializing in test preparation or language instruction can also attract a niche market.

8. Subscription Box Service

Subscription boxes are becoming increasingly popular. You can curate products around a specific theme, such as beauty, fitness, snacks, or even books. A well-thought-out subscription box can create a steady stream of recurring revenue.

9. Social Media Management

Many small businesses struggle with maintaining a strong social media presence. If you're savvy with social platforms and digital marketing, offering social media management services can be a profitable venture. Helping businesses grow their online audience and engagement can build long-term client relationships.

10. Handmade Crafts and Art

For creative individuals, selling handmade crafts and art can be both fulfilling and profitable. Websites like Etsy provide a platform to reach a global audience. Unique, high-quality items often find a dedicated customer base.

The bottom line is that starting a small business requires passion, dedication, and a willingness to learn and adapt. By choosing the right idea and executing it well, you can build a successful and rewarding business. Be sure to watch your profit line and cash flow closely, as maintaining financial health is crucial for sustainability and growth. Regularly reviewing your finances, managing expenses, and planning for future investments will help ensure your business remains profitable. With perseverance and careful financial management, your small business can thrive and provide long-term satisfaction and success.

Melissa Houston, CPA is the author of Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Profitable Business and the founder of She Means Profit . As a Business Strategist for small business owners, Melissa helps women making mid-career shifts, to launch their dream businesses, and I also guide established business owners to grow their businesses to more profitably.

The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace any professional or expert accounting and/or tax advice whatsoever.

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These Supreme Court decisions just made it harder to solve climate change

Four key rulings limiting federal power will curtail the ability of the epa and other agencies to write and enforce climate policies..

The Supreme Court on Monday weakened a law protecting federal regulations from lawsuits, granting the companies governed by those rules more time to challenge them. The move effectively eliminates any statute of limitations on rules issued by a wide range of federal agencies, potentially placing even long-standing regulations in legal peril.

That ruling came just days after the court, in a seismic decision, overturned the Chevron doctrine . The decades-old legal precedent provided the basis for regulations governing countless aspects of daily life, from the environment to labor protections. These decisions, coupled with two others issued last week, could sharply curtail the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to limit air pollution, govern toxic substances, and set climate policy.

“This term, a series of decisions unlike any before in American history,” has resulted in “an unraveling of the responsibility that expert agencies have to protect millions of Americans from harm,” said Vickie Patton, general counsel at the advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund.

Although these lawsuits challenged the power of a range of agencies, from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the Department of Commerce, the decisions will have widespread impacts on those issuing climate policies. The EPA in particular has drawn scorn from conservatives who have long argued that its regulations pose an undue burden on everything from power generation to construction.

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In one decision after another, the court’s conservative justices largely agreed. In its most far-reaching ruling, handed down Friday, they threw into question the future of environmental and climate regulations by overturning the precedent that gave federal agencies authority to interpret laws based on their expertise and scientific evidence. It will be years before the full impact of its decision to scuttle Chevron becomes clear, but it could prompt lawsuits aimed at regulations designed to mitigate climate change.

“There’s no question that there will be a flood of new challenges to settled policies by virtue of this decision,” Sean Donahue, an attorney who represented the Environmental Defense Fund in the case, told reporters on Friday. 

The two lawsuits that led to the decision stemmed from a Commerce Department regulation requiring fishing companies to pay the cost of having third-party observers aboard each vessel to prevent overfishing. What started as a squabble over a narrowly focused rule expanded into a larger question of whether Chevron should remain in place. The doctrine originated with the 1984 Supreme Court case Chevron v. NRDC (which gave the petroleum company greater leeway when applying for air pollution permits), and hinges on the idea that regulators have expertise and experience that judges typically don’t. It has been used to successfully defend federal actions under Republican and Democratic administrations.

“This is not a radical idea,” Harvard law professor Jody Freeman wrote recently . “Implementing health, safety, environmental, financial, and consumer protection laws requires a great deal of day-to-day legal interpretation which depends significantly on subject matter expertise.”

The lower courts rejected the fishing companies’ arguments and upheld the regulations in question, citing Chevron. But the Supreme Court’s conservative justices, in a 6-3 decision , struck down the idea that courts should defer to regulators. “Agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. “Courts do.”

The effect of this ruling will take years to discern, but legal scholars and climate and environmental activists said it could jeopardize current and future climate policies because it expands the power of courts to review and strike down regulatory guidelines or efforts. 

“This decision shifts power dramatically away from agencies towards the courts,” said Michael Burger, executive director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. “And in doing so, tilts the scales against regulation.”

The decision is a victory for business interests and anti-regulatory activists who framed Chevron as an example of governmental overreach by an expanding “administrative state.” Conservative organizations like the Koch network have long supported efforts to dismantle Chevron , and attorneys linked to that organization represented plaintiffs in one of the two cases that ended it. 

Although the Supreme Court hasn’t applied Chevron to a case in more than a decade, the doctrine is essential to how lower court judges — who decide the majority of cases involving federal regulations — rule on any challenges to an agency’s actions. (Justice Elena Kagan, during oral arguments , noted that jurists cited Chevron in more than 17,000 cases over four decades. An analysis of lower court opinions from 2003 to 2013 found that agencies citing Chevron prevailed in more than 70 percent of cases, upholding a wide range of regulations issued by a host of agencies.)

Lawmakers and regulators, meanwhile, relied on the “reliable, predictable framework for judicial review” that Chevron provided, Burger said. Congress knew what to expect from courts when writing broad laws and allowing regulators to interpret and implement them. Agencies like the EPA and Interior Department could, in turn, issue rules knowing that the doctrine would support their authority to do so. 

“Now, it’s very unclear what’s going to happen in any individual case,” he said. Without Chevron, it is “more likely that judges will say that a regulation is either outside an agency’s authority or not authorized by a statute.” That poses a particular threat to current or future rules related to the environment and climate change, two policy realms that involve ambiguities and scientific, economic, and technical considerations, he said.

That threat is compounded by the decision the court issued Monday in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. That ruling creates a risk that courts could soon face a deluge of lawsuits challenging even decades-old regulations.

As with Chevron, the issue at the heart of Corner Post had nothing to do with climate or environment. The suit, filed in 2021, argued that a 2011 regulation establishing debit card swipe fees was unreasonable. Because federal law states that challenges to regulatory laws must be filed within six years of the law’s adoption, the plaintiffs added a third party, Corner Post, a truck stop that opened in 2018. The plaintiffs argued that the statute of limitations should not apply because Corner Post did not exist when the regulation was adopted.

In a 6-3 decision the court agreed and said the six-year timeline should instead begin at the moment someone is harmed by the rule — effectively eliminating a statute of limitations for any federal regulation. That means any regulation, covering any topic, could be challenged in court regardless of how old it is.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned in her dissent that the Corner Post ruling, coupled with the court’s decision to discard Chevron, will unleash a “tsunami of lawsuits against agencies” that could “devastate the functioning of the federal government.” According to the advocacy group Public Citizen, the time frame eliminated by the Corner Post decision has in the past prevented challenges to regulations limiting oil and gas extraction on public land and establishing minimum wages for farm workers, among other things.

No less troubling, the Supreme Court made clear on Thursday, in a suit specifically involving the EPA, that it will stop regulations even as they are being litigated in lower courts. That’s precisely what it did in Ohio v. EPA when it paused the agency’s “Good Neighbor” rule and its stringent smokestack emissions requirements. The court majority ruled, in a lawsuit brought by Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and others, that the EPA failed to “reasonably explain” its policy and placed it on hold pending the outcome of more than a dozen lawsuits. Environmental and climate activists worry that future challenges to federal policies could similarly “ short-circuit the normal process of judicial review ” by appealing directly to the Supreme Court. 

Sam Sankar, senior vice president for programs at Earthjustice, called the decision a “frontal assault on the EPA.” He pointed out that unlike cases involving Chevron deference, the agency’s authority to implement the Good Neighbor rule was clear under the federal Clean Air Act and that “the EPA is required to issue rules like this.” The ruling suggests that in the future, any federal regulations, even those issued under clear legal authority, could face similar attacks. 

“It casts a pall on just about any new regulation,” Sankar said.

Climate and environmental activists also took exception to how the court decided the case. By placing the matter on its emergency docket — which typically is reserved for minor procedural issues — and acting before lower courts have issued decisions, the Supreme Court brought what one expert called “procedural strangeness” to its decision-making. The ruling suggests future environmental policies could face similar challenges on the emergency docket.

“It’s really hard to say that there are any rules that aren’t subject to this kind of attack,” Sankar said.

The court also took a step, in a case involving the Securities and Exchange Commission, to sharply curtail the ability of federal agencies to enforce regulations and levy fines. SEC v. Jarkesy revolved around George Jarkesy, a conservative radio show host and hedge fund manager accused of misleading investors. The SEC brought the case before an administrative law judge — a type of jurist who specializes in highly technical areas of law and decides cases without a jury. Jarkersy was found to have violated SEC rules, fined $300,000, and ordered to “disgorge nearly $685,000 in illicit gains.” He then sued the agency, arguing that the government violated his Seventh Amendment right to a trial by jury. 

The court agreed, ruling on Thursday that a defendant facing civil penalties by the SEC “has the right to be tried by a jury of his peers.” In a dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said that position threatens the ability of more than two dozen agencies, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the EPA, to enforce regulations and impose fines.

“Make no mistake,” she wrote. “Today’s decision is a power grab.”

The high court has on several occasions in recent years shown a willingness to curtail the government’s ability to take bold steps to address environmental and climate challenges. Last year it limited some clean water protections , and in 2022 it restricted the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in West Virginia v. EPA . The trend could continue next year when justices hear a case challenging the National Environmental Policy Act , a bedrock law that requires environmental assessments for major infrastructure projects. 

Patton from the Environmental Defense Fund says that it’s no coincidence the court has decided to take up so many environmental cases and take such aggressive steps to roll back the government’s efforts to reduce pollution and mitigate climate change. 

“There are lots of powerful polluters who have long tried to unravel and weaken the laws that were enacted by Congress,” she said. “What’s new and different is that we have a 6-3 super majority on the Supreme Court that is solicitous and open to the most extreme arguments.”

That, climate activists warn, means it will only grow harder for government agencies to take the steps needed to address the climate crisis.

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Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. It’s vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. At Grist, we don’t believe in paywalls. Instead, we rely on our readers to pitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news.  

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Election latest: Top Labour candidate at risk of losing seat 'very concerned' over postal ballot delays

We're in the final 24 hours of the general election campaign, and Sir Keir Starmer is still looking destined to become the next prime minister. But the polls aren't all positive news for Labour, with one of their frontbenchers at risk of losing in a potentially huge swing to the Greens.

Wednesday 3 July 2024 14:10, UK

• General Election 2024

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Last day of election campaigning

• Bulletin: What you need to know this lunchtime
• Under-threat Labour frontbencher hits out at postal vote delays
• Starmer reveals his biggest fear | And it's not Boris Johnson
• Beth Rigby: Labour insiders can't help feel the party's time has come
• Tory minister admits Labour look on course for landslide
• Lib Dem leader makes most of final day - with a tractor race
• Electoral Dysfunction: What to watch out for on election night
• Live reporting by Faith Ridler   and Brad Young

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Conservatives | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid | Reform | SNP
• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo
• How to watch election on Sky News

Sky News will reveal the results of YouGov's final MRP poll of the election campaign at 5pm.

The polls have been consistently disastrous for the Tories throughout the campaign and the previous two in this series have been no exception.

Our last one, from 19 June , projected Labour to win a majority of 200 and many big name Conservatives to lose their seats.

Could things have got even worse since then?

Find out at 5pm, live on Sky News and here in Politics Hub.

"I was supposed to parachute in," jokes Sir Ed Davey as he addresses supporters in Hampshire, his second stop of the day.

Campaigning alongside vet and Winchester candidate Danny Chambers, Sir Ed says: "We've got the pet vote, and the farm animal vote, all sewn up." 

He continues: "This is a once in a century election. A chance where we can change the political geography of our nation, and in doing that, I want us to become a caring nation."

As the event winds down, he apologises for keeping his supporters waiting: "An hour?! I'm so sorry - I blame the Tories."

The full list of candidates running in Winchester include:

•  Chris Barfoot, independent;
• Danny Chambers, Lib Dems;
• Kevin D'Cruze, independent;
• Andrew Davis, Social Democratic Party;
• Hannah Dawson, Labour;
• Flick Drummond, Conservatives.

The leader of Plaid Cymru has said the Conservatives are "desperate" for attacking Sir Keir Starmer for wanting to spend Friday evenings with his children.

Sir Keir said earlier this week that Friday night dinner is important to his family and that he tries to "not do a work-related thing after 6pm" on Fridays.

This led to senior Conservatives criticising the Labour leader, accusing him of being a "part-time prime minister".

Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid, said: "I think that the Conservatives are pretty desperate if they're coming down to that kind of level of personal attack.

"People attack me personally all the time and I tend to try to ignore it."

Plaid vows to 'hold Labour to account'

"What we need to focus on is what's really at stake in this election," he added.

"Conservatives are going - high time - Labour will form the next government, but we can hold them to account."

SNP leader John Swinney also criticised the Tory attacks on Sir Keir earlier today, labelling them "disgusting".

 No criminal offences were committed by Reform UK activists campaigning for Nigel Farage who were filmed by an undercover journalist for Channel 4, Essex Police says.

"Having assessed the comments made during a Channel 4 news programme, and all other information available to us, we have concluded that no criminal offences have taken place," said the force in a statement.

The footage showed canvasser Andrew Parker using a racial slur about Rishi Sunak and suggesting migrants arriving in the UK on small boats should be used as "target practice".

Another activist described the Pride flag as "degenerate" and suggested members of the LGBT+ community are paedophiles.

Mr Farage claimed he was the victim of a stitch-up because Mr Parker is an actor, but Mr Parker insisted he was there as a Reform activist and Channel 4 said he was not known to the broadcaster before being "filmed covertly via the undercover operation".

 By Jennifer Scott , political reporter

More than £232m has been paid out in compensation to people affected by the now-scrapped northern leg of HS2, Sky News can reveal.

Responses to our Freedom of Information requests show just shy of £550m has been spent so far on a range of government compensation schemes for both residents and businesses impacted by the planned route between London and Manchester.

But more than 40% of the pot went to land and property owners in phase two of the project - starting at Birmingham and heading north - which was cancelled by the Conservatives at their 2023 party conference and will never be built.

A total of 2,446 successful applications for pay outs have been made across five schemes, but 53 are still yet to be settled - 10 years after compensation was first made available.

You can read more from Sky News here:

By Faith Ridler , political reporter

A Labour frontbencher in a hotly contested seat is "very concerned" about delays to arrivals of postal votes in her constituency - which she could be set to lose to the Greens.

Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow culture secretary, wrote to a British citizen who lives in Hong Kong - but is registered to vote in Bristol Central - to explain she is "certainly not the only person" who has experienced delays.

'Completely unacceptable'

Bronwen Baynes, 34, did not receive her postal vote and now there is no way of her getting it back to the count before the deadline of 10pm on Thursday.

She is now applying for an emergency proxy vote in the hope that one of her friends can vote on her behalf - but this is proving difficult.

Ms Debboinaire told her in an email seen by Sky News that this situation is "completely unacceptable" - and she is "very concerned" about the "failure of postal votes to be sent out on time".

She added that Ms Baynes is "certainly not the only person who has experienced this".

Bristol City Council told her to pick up a re-issued postal ballot from the council offices - some 9,762km away from where she lives - and resubmit this to register her vote.

The latest MRP poll shows Bristol Central could well be a Green gain, with a possible 12-point majority.

The Labour candidate holds a 16,000 - or 32.5% - majority in the seat.

There are reports of thousands of postal ballots not being delivered in time, with postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake calling on Royal Mail "to do all they can" to make sure postal votes get to people in time.

More than 90 constituencies, including those of cabinet ministers, have raised concerns about ballots failing to arrive, according to The Telegraph.

But Royal Mail said it is delivering postal votes as soon as they arrive in its network - and has called for a review of how the printing and administration of postal votes is handled before the ballot papers are given to Royal Mail.

The other candidates in Bristol Central are:

• Robert Clarke, Reform UK;
• Nicholas Coombes, Liberal Democrats;
• Carla Denyer, Green Party;
• Kellie-Jay Keen, Party of Women;
• Samuel Williams, Conservatives.

Rishi Sunak has said his favourite meal is "sandwiches".

Asked about his final meal in Number 10, should he lose his role after voting on Thursday, the Prime Minister told ITV's This Morning: "Well, my favourite meal generally is sandwiches. 

"You know, I'm a big sandwich person.

"But, actually, I always have on election night - we have a bit of a tradition, my local butcher, one of my local butchers called Kitson's in Northallerton High Street, always do a special election pie."

PM will 'check in' with favourite butcher

Mr Sunak described the pie as a "very good pork pie with a special chutney and some cheese as well, on top", and added he has had the pie at all the elections he has stood at in the Richmond, Yorkshire, constituency.

"I have to check in with them," he said.

The other candidates in Richmond and Northallerton are:

• Jason Barnett, independent;
• Count Binface, Count Binface Party;
• Daniel Callaghan, Lib Dems;
• Angie Campion, independent;
• Louise Anne Dickens, Workers Party;
• Kevin Foster, Greens;
• Rio Goldhammer, Yorkshire Party;
• Niko Omilana, independent;
• Brian Richmond, independent;
• Sir Archibald Stanton, Monster Raving Loony Party;
• Lee Taylor, Reform;
• Tom Wilson, Labour.

Former Labour adviser Ayesha Hazarika is back with Beth and Ruth for the last few days of the election campaign.

On this episode they discuss how Beth is preparing for election night, what constituencies to look out for and election night snacks.

They also discuss the final days of campaigning and why the Tories are attacking Keir Starmer for suggesting he will finish work at 6pm on a Friday night if he becomes prime minister.  

👉 Click here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Email Beth, Ruth, and Ayesha at [email protected] , post on X to @BethRigby, or send a WhatsApp voice note on 07934 200 444.

It's 12pm - time for your lunchtime general election update on the very final day of this fiery, six-week campaign.

Here's everything you need to know so far today:

• We're in the final 24 hours of the general election campaign, and both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will spend the day making their last-ditch pleas to voters;
• The prime minister will make the case for voting Conservative , and claim that Tory MPs will help to offer a counterbalance to what is expected to be a landslide majority for Labour;
• Poll after poll is now suggesting the Labour Party is expected to win a large majority in parliament, with the Sky News poll of polls putting Sir Keir 19 points ahead this morning;
• But the Labour leader tells Sky's Beth Rigby he still fears people not feeling the need to "go out and vote for change".
• Mel Stride , the work and pensions secretary, today said the Conservatives "know what the result is going to be if the polls are right - we know it's going to be a Labour landslide";
• But Mr Sunak has sought to downplay this since, saying Mr Stride "wasn't quite saying" that the goal for the Tories now is only avoiding a Labour " supermajority ";
• And - if you wondered - the prime minister has revealed his favourite food is... a sandwich.
• Sir Keir has continued to insist that his party is not counting on a victory in tomorrow's election, despite Conservatives appearing to concede their own defeat;
• He also reiterated that Labour is "not in the slightest" worried about Boris Johnson 's appearance at a Tory rally overnight;
• Meanwhile, in typical Liberal Democrat fashion, Sir Ed Davey has been tractor racing in Chippenham today - and there's more to come;
• And away from the general election, Ex-DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will face trial over allegations of historical sex offences.

This was a question posed to the Labour leader by our political editor Beth Rigby as he began the final stretch of the election campaign today.

He says: "My fear at the moment is that people will not feel the necessity to go out and vote for change. 

"This is not a done deal, we need to fight all the way through to 10pm tomorrow night."

Sir Keir says the "prize" on Thursday is a "historic change in direction for our country, to take our country forward". 

But, he adds: "This will only happen if you vote for it.

"I picked up the Labour Party in a pretty poor state four years' ago and set about the task of changing the Labour Party, putting it in the position where we are a day away from election as credible contenders for election."

He says now, Labour wants the opportunity to "take the country forward".

"I will always say country first, party second."

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