Can Newspapers Reach the Young?

Young Readers

Winter 2003: Young Readers Introduction

By Melissa Ludtke• Features• December 15, 2003

Newspaper reading isn’t a daily habit for most young people. Instead they catch headlines on Web sites, share opinions on Weblogs, and see breaking news alerts along TV scroll bars. Nor do they think they should pay for news reporting. “Deliver the newspaper to me free, and I’ll take a look,” typical young readers tell focus groups as news organizations look for ways to unlock the mysteries of how to connect with these reluctant consumers. – Melissa Ludtke, Editor Read more

When Teens Own a Part of the Newspaper

By Lisa Scheid• Features• December 15, 2003

By featuring teen voices and experiences, a newspaper gives younger readers a place to call their own. Read more

Conventional Views a Teen Section Editor Must Break

By Lisa Scheid• Features• December 15, 2003

Good journalists don’t put their opinions in their writing. Instead of teaching teens to keep themselves out of articles, editors need to teach them when and how they should write first-person pieces. We should encourage them how to augment their … Read more

Seeing the Holocaust Through a Child’s Eyes

By Kayla Conklin• Features• December 15, 2003

The following excerpt is from a longer piece, “Seeing Devastation Through a Child’s Eyes,” written by Kayla Conklin and published in Voices in April 2003. Conklin is a former Voices’ intern who is now in her first year at Temple … Read more

Approaching the End of the ‘Monomedia’ Era

By Thomaz Souto Corrêa• Features• December 15, 2003

Why do young people insist in not understanding what we, the press, do for them? Read more

Are We Reaching Da Youth?

By Danny Schechter• Features• December 15, 2003

Young adults’ ‘rejection of “the news” might be a reaction to big journalism’s rejection of them.’ Read more

Solving Some Mysteries About the Habits of the Young

By John K. Hartman• Features• December 15, 2003

The keys to turning young adults into newsreaders are out there. Read more

Lessons Worth Learning About Young Readers

By Tom Curley• Features• December 15, 2003

Young people will read newspapers and creative minds are figuring out how to reach them. Read more

The Washington Post Reaches Out to Young Readers

By Steve Coll• Features• December 15, 2003

‘Put the journalism first, put the readers first, put the reporters first. And start to move.’ Read more

Retaining the Core While Reaching Out to the Young

By Henry B. Haitz III• Features• December 15, 2003

What is needed is a talented young staff, fresh ideas, and a solid business plan. Read more

How a Newspaper Becomes ‘H.I.P.’

By Colleen Pohlig• Features• December 15, 2003

To attract younger readers, a newspaper needs to be ‘human, interactive and personal.’ Read more

Drawing Young Urban Commuters to a New Tabloid

By Joe Knowles• Features• December 15, 2003

‘Even the name had to say, “Look at me. I’m not like the other papers.”’ Read more

Meshing Young Ideas With Older Sensibilities

By Elaine Kramer• Features• December 15, 2003

At the Orlando Sentinel, reaching a younger audience is happening without alienating their older one. Read more

Connecting What Is Learned With What Is Done

By Jennifer Carroll• Features• December 15, 2003

At Gannett, different strategies aim at the same goal of attracting younger readers. Read more

Targeting Young Women as Newspaper Readers

By Nicole Carroll• Features• December 15, 2003

The Arizona Republic uses a magazine-style tabloid focused on fashion to bring younger women to the paper. Read more

Writing Stories to Reach Young Adults

By Leslie Koren• Features• December 15, 2003

‘I put more of myself in stories by integrating my experiences and my thoughts and preferences in what I write.’ Read more

Excerpts From Leslie Koren’s Stories

By Leslie Koren• Features• December 15, 2003

RELATED ARTICLE “Writing Stories to Reach Young Adults” – Leslie KorenMy editors told me I’d need to lose the formal newspaper tone and spice up my stories when I took … Read more

Practicing Journalism in Elementary Classrooms

By Leah Kohlenberg• Features• December 15, 2003

‘Could eight-, nine- and 10-year-olds, who had trouble sitting still for more than 10 minutes at a time, develop the skills to become reporters?’ Read more

Opening Up to Kids

By Shawn Moynihan• Features• December 15, 2003

Working to close the generation and credibility gap, post-Jayson Blair. Read more

L.A. Youth Partners With the Los Angeles Times

By Donna C. Myrow• Features• December 15, 2003

Its experiences offer valuable guidance for attracting younger readers. Read more

Mixing Young and Old to Create a New Approach

By Ellin O’Leary• Features• December 15, 2003

Youth Radio succeeds by ‘balancing young producers’ insights and new ideas about content with the professionalism and knowledge of their adult counterparts.’ Read more

Why I Don’t Like Mainstream News

By Youth Radio's student journalists• Features• December 15, 2003

Young people find a lot not to like about the way news is often presented. Read more