The Bell selects 18 Mississippi high schools to revitalize journalism education
JACKSON, MS — Mississippi has a storied history of raising journalists who change the world — from the fearless reporting of Ida B. Wells to the global influence of Oprah Winfrey. To ensure that legacy continues, The Bell is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of the Mississippi High School Journalism Project.
Led by The Bell and funded by Press Forward Mississippi, this new initiative will establish credit-bearing journalism classes and student newsrooms in 18 public high schools across the state, closing a critical gap in media access and civic education.
While Mississippi boasts a rich literary and journalistic history, currently less than 15% of the state’s 500 public and private high schools participate in the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association (MSPA). The Bell is moving to bridge this divide in cities from the Delta to the Coast, including Greenwood, Byhalia, Jackson, Gautier and Natchez.
"From every corner of our state, we received compelling applications from schools eager to expand student journalism," said Taylor McGraw, executive director of The Bell. “School journalism programs provide vital platforms for student expression, prepare students for a wide range of careers, and strengthen our civic infrastructure: a win-win-win for the whole state.”
Strengthening the local news pipeline
The project is made possible by Press Forward Mississippi, one of 44 local chapters of a national, non-partisan network of funders working to ensure communities stay informed and engaged. By investing in the next generation, Press Forward Mississippi aims to grow the pipeline of future journalists while equipping all students with vital communication skills and media literacy.
“Quality local news is an essential ingredient for building strong communities,” said Mike Claiborne, CEO of the CREATE Foundation and lead funder for Press Forward Mississippi. “As technology continues to change, we know that the future of local news will look different than the past. Mississippi’s young people will shape that future, and our goal is to equip more of our youth to take part.”
An authentic, activity-based curriculum
The 18 schools were chosen based on teacher commitment, administrative support, and student interest. Educators will enter the next school year equipped with an adaptable, year-long curriculum developed at the City University of New York’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism by nationally recognized expert Katina Paron.
Designed to move students from passive consumers of media to active, ethical creators, the curriculum features over 160 activity-based lessons focused on:
Evaluating information: Assessing reliability and identifying bias in an era of misinformation.
Real-world storytelling: News gathering and interviewing on issues central to their local communities.
Ethical decision-making: Exploring the responsibilities of a free press in a democracy.
Multimedia production: Creating original work for broadcast, podcasting, and digital platforms.
The cohort’s training will culminate this June in a four-day institute at the University of Mississippi, where teachers will receive specialized coaching from Paron and MSPA leaders.
Comprehensive support for schools
Through The Bell, cohort members will receive ongoing professional development and curriculum support. Additionally, participating schools will receive two years of complimentary MSPA membership, providing access to statewide conferences, instructional resources, awards competitions, mentorship and a subscription to the Journalism Education Association.
“Being a part of this cohort will not only give me information and instructional strategies to teach the skills needed for journalism, but it will also help me inspire students who may want to become journalists or who like to write and speak, but do not have a structured outlet to show their talents,” said Tracee Thompson, an English teacher at Jim Hill High School in Jackson.
For more information on the Mississippi High School Journalism Project, visit https://www.bellvoices.org/mississippi
A call to action
As these schools prepare to launch new journalism courses, Press Forward Mississippi is inviting local sponsors to join the movement by helping provide teacher training or equipping classrooms with the technology needed for modern storytelling.
For more information on how to support the initiative, visit pressforwardms.org.
About The Bell
The Bell is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a national leader in youth journalism, empowering students to produce high-impact storytelling for national airwaves and local communities alike. It has offices in New York City and Jackson, Mississippi. Learn more at bellvoices.org.