CONTACT:
Patricia Gallagher Newberry, SPJ National President, 513-702-4065, pattinewberryspj@gmail.com
Zoë Berg, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, zberg@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – Journalism educators have another tool for their e-learning toolboxes as #Press4Education videos have been added online.

A collaboration between the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association, the #Press4Education project aims to bring more journalism education to K-12 schools across the nation. Since it began in 2018, the program has made 248 face-to-face presentations in 240 schools across the country.

The videos can be found on SPJ’s YouTube channel, with more in the works. They may also be useful tools for post-secondary educators.

“With school moving online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, journalism educators’ needs for e-learning resources have increased,” SPJ Journalism Education Committee Chair Leticia Steffen said. “Through these new videos, and in light of SPJ’s dedication to contribute to journalism training, we are hoping to provide educators with the tools and information they need to effectively train the next generation of journalists about the industry."

These resources can also be helpful for any educator who wants students to have a better understanding of how the profession of journalism works and how vital the field of journalism is in our society.

"I'm thrilled that the scholastic journalism community will have access to such fantastic materials from industry professionals as teachers adapt to this new time of distance learning,” JEA President and J-Ed Committee member Sarah Nichols said. “As always, SPJ takes care to nurture its youngest in the field — students. #Press4Education will continue to grow and evolve with video presentations like these."

The videos provide useful information on the basics of journalism, including reporting, headline writing, broadcast writing, editing, media literacy and identifying fake news and misinformation. More videos, including interviews with journalists and information about journalism ethics, will be added soon.

The original lessons were developed by SPJ’s J-Ed Committee. Professional journalists and journalism professors volunteered to present the information and create the videos.

“We want to thank the hard work of our J-Ed committee members, especially Becky Tallent and Kym Fox, as well as the many working journalists who volunteered to create the videos, especially Gary Boyer, owner of GBTV in Texas,” Steffen said. “These folks really stepped up in a short amount of time to create these very useful video resources.”

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund or give to the SPJ Foundation.

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