Our Programs

Press Pass NYC helps New York City public schools build and sustain student news programs and teams from the ground up.

Most teachers who want to advise a student newspaper have never worked in a newsroom. We train them — and stay with them for three years.

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.

    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.

    See our RESOURCES page for more.

    A notebook on a black desk with a graphic of a train ticket that says "Press Pass NYC", a pink cup, a silver laptop, and a white marker with red cap.

I am so grateful for the support from PressPass this year. I saw students go from being a little skeptical about starting a school newspaper to being empowered and taking charge of making decisions about our paper by the end of the year. I met so many passionate teachers and learned so many tricks of the trade through them as well!

Amanda Fredrickson, Liberty Avenue Middle School, Brooklyn

Press Pass NYC has become an invaluable resource in my classroom. It provides me, as a teacher, with an incredible amount of resources to make me a better teacher, and gives my students numerous opportunities to see the importance and coolness of Journalism!

John Vincent Brandenburg, Queens Technical High School,

Press Pass NYC has helped my students grow as journalists. They have provided the much needed support that has been essential is our success. The students love being involved in a large community where they can share their work and brainstorm ideas.

Kathryn Donovan, Health, Education and Research Occupations High School, The Bronx

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.

    A group of diverse young people and adults posing in front of The New York Times building with glass doors and logo.

  • 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.

    Three young people standing in conversation with a woman seated at a table in Bryant Park, New York City. They are taking notes and holding pens.

 I didn't know my voice could reach that far or that 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, Bronx River High School

 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, Academy for Young Writers, Brooklyn

Through this fellowship, I learned that quotes and interviews are really what bring the "humanity" side of journalism to life. Facts and statistics can inform a reader, but it's personal stories and firsthand voices that make an article feel real and give readers something to actually connect with. Without those voices, a piece risks becoming just information rather than a story people care about.

Maria Ferdous, Health, Arts, Robotics, and Technology High School, Queens

JOIN OUR MISSION!

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

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

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BE A GUEST SPEAKER

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

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