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Journalism & School Paper

Become a reporter, editor, and publisher. Learn interviewing, news writing, fact-checking, visual journalism, and digital publishing — then produce your own school paper. Connects to ELA writing skills, critical thinking, financial literacy, and ethics.

14 Units

30-45 minutes per unit

What You Will Learn

Real Reporting Skills

Learn to find stories, conduct interviews, write news articles, and distinguish fact from opinion.

Fact-Checking & Media Literacy

Evaluate sources, detect bias, verify claims, and understand how news shapes public opinion.

Publish Your Paper

Plan, write, edit, and publish a complete school newspaper as a capstone project.

All Units

What Makes Something News?

Learn the difference between news, opinion, and entertainment. Understand what journalists do and why it matters for communities.

•Formulate your own working definition of news
•Distinguish news from opinion, editorial, and entertainment
•Identify the five criteria of newsworthiness

Finding Stories in Your World

Great reporters don't wait for news to happen — they go looking for it. Learn to spot story ideas in your school, neighborhood, and community.

•Generate story ideas from observation and everyday conversations
•Develop a story pitch with a clear angle and audience
•Identify local angles on bigger regional or national stories
+1 more objectives

The Interview: Getting People to Talk

The interview is a journalist's most important tool. Learn how to prepare questions, listen actively, and get people to share what they really think.

•Prepare effective interview questions, distinguishing open-ended from closed questions
•Conduct a structured interview using a pre-interview checklist
•Take effective notes during an interview
+1 more objectives

Writing the News Story

News writing follows a specific structure: the most important information first, then supporting details. Learn the inverted pyramid, the Five Ws, and how to write a lead that grabs readers.

•Write a news lead that answers the most essential Five W questions
•Structure a story using the inverted pyramid
•Use attribution correctly with the verb 'said'
+1 more objectives

Opinion vs. Reporting: The Line That Matters

Learn the crucial distinction between reporting facts and expressing opinions. Both are valuable — but mixing them up destroys trust.

•Distinguish news reporting from opinion and editorial writing
•Write an opinion piece that argues fairly with evidence
•Identify when reporting has crossed into opinion
+1 more objectives

Bias, Framing, and Fairness

Every story is told from a perspective. Learn to recognize bias in reporting — including your own — and practice fair, balanced journalism.

•Identify types of media bias: selection, omission, framing, and placement
•Recognize framing effects created by word choice
•Practice balanced reporting techniques
+1 more objectives

Fact-Checking: Trust but Verify

In a world of misinformation, fact-checking is a superpower. Learn to verify claims, check sources, and separate truth from fiction.

•Apply basic fact-checking techniques including lateral reading and source verification
•Identify red flags in unreliable sources
•Use fact-checking websites and databases
+1 more objectives

Visual Journalism: Pictures Tell Stories

A photograph can change the world. Learn the basics of photojournalism, infographics, and visual storytelling for your school paper.

•Understand the role of images in journalism
•Apply basic photojournalism principles including composition, context, and ethics
•Create simple infographics from data
+1 more objectives

Following the Money: Financial Reporting Basics

Some of the most important journalism is about money. Learn to read budgets, understand basic financial data, and report on how money flows in your school and community.

•Read a basic budget document
•Identify key financial terms: revenue, expenses, surplus, and deficit
•Ask financial questions about institutions
+1 more objectives

Analyzing Current Events Like a Journalist

Learn to analyze breaking news with the same frameworks journalists use: context, causes, consequences, and competing perspectives.

•Apply the 5 Ws to breaking news analysis
•Provide historical context for current events
•Identify multiple perspectives on the same event
+1 more objectives

Community Reporting: Your Neighborhood Has Stories

The best journalism starts close to home. Learn to report on your school, neighborhood, and local government — the stories that affect your daily life.

•Identify key community news sources including school boards, city councils, and local events
•Attend and report on a public meeting
•Interview community members as news sources
+1 more objectives

Digital Publishing and Ethics

Publishing online is powerful — and permanent. Learn the ethical responsibilities of digital publishing, from privacy and consent to corrections and transparency.

•Understand digital publishing ethics including privacy, consent, and corrections
•Create responsible social media content for news purposes
•Apply correction and update policies to published work
+1 more objectives

How Newspapers Make Money (Or Don't)

Journalism costs money to produce. Learn how news organizations are funded, why so many are struggling, and what happens to communities when local news disappears.

•Explain how news organizations generate revenue
•Understand the advertising model and why it collapsed
•Identify the concept of "news deserts" and where they exist
+1 more objectives

Your Paper: The Final Edition

Everything you have learned comes together. Plan, write, edit, and publish a complete school paper — news stories, opinion pieces, photos, and all.

•Apply all journalism skills in a capstone project
•Work through the full editorial process from pitch to publication
•Give and receive constructive editorial feedback
+1 more objectives

Grade 7 Journalism & School Paper. Enrichment elective for Texas homeschool families.