Our Programs

Press Pass NYC helps New York City public schools build and sustain student news programs and teams from the ground up. Along the way, students become writers, editors, photographers, and reporters, learn to ask hard questions, verify facts, meet deadlines, and put their name on work that goes out into the world. It's learning that doesn't feel like school because it isn't. It's real journalism, with real stakes and real readers.

Programs for Educators

  • Teacher Training and Support

    Press Pass NYC’s Journalism Adviser Fellowship prepares NYC public middle and high school educators to launch or grow a sustainable, high-impact student journalism program at their school. Fellows join a cohort of up to 20 teachers for a year and receive 30 hours of professional development, online and in person, including hands-on training in the fundamentals of teaching journalism and advising a student-led news staff, curriculum resources, mentorship, and a stipend. Educators leave the program equipped and confident to guide their students in producing meaningful, high-quality news coverage that reflects and serves their school community.

    PLEASE CHECK BACK HERE IN SPRING 2027 FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2027-28 SCHOOL YEAR.

    A group of people sitting around a table in a meeting room, engaged in conversation. One woman is standing and holding up newspapers, while the others listen and converse. There are food and drinks on the table.

  • Adviser Handbook and Other Resources

    Press Pass NYC Journalism Adviser & Editor Handbooks: We offer a Journalism Adviser Handbook, written by award-winning NYC journalism advisers, and a Student Editor Handbook, written by NYC high school editors. Click HERE to request access.

    Journalism for All "Student Media Production" Module: Want to know what it actually takes to build a student newsroom from scratch? This free curriculum distills years of on-the-ground experience working with NYC educators and students. Developed by Press Pass NYC as part of the Journalism for All curriculum initiative, it's a practical starting point for any adviser ready to bring student journalism to their school. This curriculum is shared for educational purposes only. Please do not reproduce, adapt, or distribute it without explicit written permission.

    See our RESOURCES page for more.

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Programs for Students

  • Student Journalism Leaders Fellowship

    By equipping students with the tools of engagement journalism and fostering leadership, the Student Journalism Leaders Fellowship Program ensures that student newspapers become essential, thriving platforms for school communities. Students in 9th-12th grade meet in person and virtually throughout the semester and receive stipends upon completion of a capstone project. For examples of their work, see this Fellowship page.

    CHECK BACK IN SEPTEMBER FOR FALL SEMESTER APPLICATIONS.

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  • Editor Bootcamp & Handbook

    Our Student Editor Bootcamp is an intensive, week-long summer program held at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, designed to equip aspiring student newsroom leaders with the skills, confidence, and strategic vision they need to build and lead a successful student news team.

    APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2026 EDITOR BOOTCAMP HAVE CLOSED. CHECK BACK IN SPRING 2027 FOR THE SUMMER 2027 SESSION.

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What Educators and Students Have to Say

  • “Student journalists now prioritize empowering unheard voices and have already brought significant change and dialogue to our school community through their reporting.”

    — Mark Stahl, Adviser, Art & Design High School

  • “Press Pass NYC has altered my vision of teaching journalism in the high school classroom. It has opened doors for me to meet credible journalists, photojournalists, other high school advisers and take trips to universities my students and I have never seen.”

    — Virginia McDermott, Adviser, Forest Hills HS

  • “ I didn't know my voice could reach that far or I had power in my writing. And just seeing it out there and seeing the potential I had, it made me realize that issues are not just issues. They're bringing voice to the people and letting theirs be heard instead of my own.”

    Lathania, 12th grader, Bronx River High School on her award-winning reporting on the impact of immigration enforcement in communities

  • “ Kids nowadays usually don't wake up and watch the news or really know what's going on in school unless it's being taught to them. So I feel like it's really important that there is more outreach, especially student outreach from fellow students who really care about what's going on in the world. Because sometimes students don't really know what's happening or what's going on in their everyday lives. "

    Neveah, 10th grader, Academy for Young Writers

  • "Kids deserve to know what's going on around the school. It also brings the school community together. "

    Gizelle, HART High School, Queens

  • “I got to learn so much about my other fellows and made new friends! I got to connect with people with similar interests as me and that was a comforting experience.”

    — Amanda Torres, Student, East Bronx Academy for the Future

  • “The fellowship really got me to step out of my comfort zone and truly understand what being a journalist meant. ”

    — Bhargavi Patel, Forest Hills High School

JOIN OUR MISSION!

Become a School Partner and bring student journalism to your school!

apply for your school

Are you a journalist or a journalism student? Volunteer as a classroom mentor or a guest speaker!

BE A CLASSROOM MENTOR
BE A GUEST SPEAKER

Help start a school newspaper by making a one-time or monthly donation!

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