In the modern era the appreciation for student writing is on the decline. Yearbook sales go down every year and hardcopy newspapers have been rendered obsolete by the internet, with students skimming any newspaper that is given to them.
Regardless, journalism still matters in the digital era and is still an important part of school culture.
Journalism allows students to learn important truth analysis skills that they will need in their adult life. Modern day grandparents will see an AI picture of Jesus on TikTok with a caption saying he has returned and believe that it is true. Real journalistic writing teaches kids the difference between fact and fiction, as well as equipping them with the ability to question sources, fact check information and recognize bias.
It is a catalyst for school spirit. With journalism’s new social media presence, they are able to post about topics missed by other programs with social media platforms. Journalism also spotlights certain things happening around the school that students might miss because it is not in the mainstream news. They report on specific events happening in the classroom, exceptional students with talents beyond school and school programs that don’t typically receive recognition. Journalism’s communication increases student engagement.
Right now school administrations around the country are censoring student journalists, but the stories being censored are important to the education of, not only, journalists but the entire student body. From a principal at Prosper High school banning all opinion writing that was not deemed uplifting or casted a negative view of the school in 2018 to a student in Texarkana having his editorial criticizing the use of drug-sniffing dogs in schools taken down because it was deemed disruptive, school officials are wrongfully using their authority to censor student journalism which is the antithesis of education.
Journalism still matters in the digital age because it builds up students’ truth analysis skills and is a catalyst for school spirit. Censoring it is wrong and undermines the purpose of education.