EWA's blog about education issues and topics from a journalist's perspective. The Educated Reporter is anchored by Emily Richmond with contributions from EWA staff and guests.
EWA’s blog about education issues and topics from a journalist’s
perspective. The Educated Reporter is anchored by Emily Richmond with contributions
from EWA staff and guests.
Stories about adolescents present the opportunity for a variety
of compelling characters, from parents and teachers to the teens
themselves who feel passionately about the issues. But data can
also be a powerful tool in crafting such narratives, as it
provides vital context for the audience.
This post was originally published on
Journalist’s Resource. It has been republished here with
permission of the author.
Colleges across the country face deep financial losses after the
coronavirus forced school officials to shutter campuses and
cancel events. Administrators worry their money troubles will
only get worse if enrollment, government funding and other
sources of revenue continue to fall amid a likely recession.
A federal appeals court recently ruled that the state of Michigan has failed to make sure children in Detroit are adequately educated. The April decision said the city’s schools have suffered from underfunding, poorly maintained facilities and too few qualified teachers. While the state is contemplating an appeal, the decision is still considered a landmark for civil rights advocates mounting similar challenges in state courts across the country.
The cancellation of statewide testing for millions of students
this spring was no surprise, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it’s raising a larger question — whether the era of annual
assessments in reading and mathematics, as required under federal
law, will soon end.
It’s now an economic reality for journalists: Many outlets pay
for at least some of their reporting through grants and
fellowships. That means many reporters need to supplement
their news writing with grant writing.
But how can you make your application stand out from the crowd?
These tips, from a journalist who has written successful
fellowship applications and from a foundation official who has
approved grants, will help you write your applications with
confidence and a plan.
Few years are as laden with
symbolic touchstones as the senior year of high school. With this
year’s graduates denied those rites of passage due to the
coronavirus pandemic — or at least the traditional rituals
associated with them — emotions are running understandably
high.
For Frances Suavillo, an immigrant
from the Philippines who is the valedictorian at Carson High
School near Los Angeles, the change in plans wasn’t easy.
Few, if any, education reporters are tackling tougher issues right now than Erica Green of The New York Times, whose stories often share a common theme of focusing on the unmet needs of marginalized students. She discusses recent coverage, including how school cafeteria workers in Baltimore are feeding an entire neighborhood, concerns about a potential federal waiver that would let districts pause services for students with disabilities, and a rare look inside a juvenile detention center where young adults are being left largely unprotected from COVID-19.
When the Seattle suburb of Kirkland became Ground Zero of the
U.S. coronavirus outbreak, the Seattle Times reporter Paige
Cornwell found her beat transforming from covering city council
elections to reporting on the most urgently unfolding story in
the country.
New achievement data for the nation’s 8th graders showed a slide
in history and geography, and no gains in civics, according to results
released April 23. That follows sliding or stagnant scores for
both 4th and 8th graders in math and reading last fall.
By Alia Malik of the San Antonio Express-News for EWA
When Nygel Turner was 5 or 6 years old, he would wake up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, with a lump in his throat.
He’d run to his father, who would put Vaseline on his chest. Turner’s father had written “breathe cream” in Sharpie on the Vaseline jar. It would calm Turner down every time.
It’s About Context, Not Time: What the Latest Research Says on Teens & Screens
Sexting is (gulp) normal and other findings to consider in news coverage
Yes, today’s teens are surrounded by screens. No, it’s not as bad for them as you might think.
That was the upshot of a discussion on screen time at a recent Education Writers Association seminar.
EWA Tip Sheet: Covering Adolescents Through Data
Stories about adolescents present the opportunity for a variety of compelling characters, from parents and teachers to the teens themselves who feel passionately about the issues. But data can also be a powerful tool in crafting such narratives, as it provides vital context for the audience.
EWA Tip Sheet: Reporting on Colleges’ Finances Amid Coronavirus
This post was originally published on Journalist’s Resource. It has been republished here with permission of the author.
Colleges across the country face deep financial losses after the coronavirus forced school officials to shutter campuses and cancel events. Administrators worry their money troubles will only get worse if enrollment, government funding and other sources of revenue continue to fall amid a likely recession.
Do Students Have a Right to Literacy?
Landmark court decision finds access to adequate educational services is a “basic right”
(EWA Radio: Episode 237)
A federal appeals court recently ruled that the state of Michigan has failed to make sure children in Detroit are adequately educated. The April decision said the city’s schools have suffered from underfunding, poorly maintained facilities and too few qualified teachers. While the state is contemplating an appeal, the decision is still considered a landmark for civil rights advocates mounting similar challenges in state courts across the country.
Will Coronavirus Be a Tipping Point That Ends Annual Testing in Schools?
Every state received a waiver of federal testing rules for 2019-20. What about next year and beyond?
The cancellation of statewide testing for millions of students this spring was no surprise, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s raising a larger question — whether the era of annual assessments in reading and mathematics, as required under federal law, will soon end.
Grant Writing: The Next Skill for Successful Journalists
A reporter and a foundation official share their best tips for winning fellowships or grants.
It’s now an economic reality for journalists: Many outlets pay for at least some of their reporting through grants and fellowships. That means many reporters need to supplement their news writing with grant writing.
But how can you make your application stand out from the crowd? These tips, from a journalist who has written successful fellowship applications and from a foundation official who has approved grants, will help you write your applications with confidence and a plan.
Under the Circumstances, No Pomp for the Class of 2020
Telling the story of a senior year changed by coronavirus
Few years are as laden with symbolic touchstones as the senior year of high school. With this year’s graduates denied those rites of passage due to the coronavirus pandemic — or at least the traditional rituals associated with them — emotions are running understandably high.
For Frances Suavillo, an immigrant from the Philippines who is the valedictorian at Carson High School near Los Angeles, the change in plans wasn’t easy.
‘There Are No Invisible Children’: Erica Green of The New York Times
Veteran reporter shares insights from the national education beat, and how COVID-19 pandemic is influencing her work
(EWA Radio: Episode 236)
Few, if any, education reporters are tackling tougher issues right now than Erica Green of The New York Times, whose stories often share a common theme of focusing on the unmet needs of marginalized students. She discusses recent coverage, including how school cafeteria workers in Baltimore are feeding an entire neighborhood, concerns about a potential federal waiver that would let districts pause services for students with disabilities, and a rare look inside a juvenile detention center where young adults are being left largely unprotected from COVID-19.
One Journalist Crowdfunds for the Furloughed as She Covers the Coronavirus
Inspired by friends' kindness, this Seattle Times reporter set up a furlough fund
When the Seattle suburb of Kirkland became Ground Zero of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak, the Seattle Times reporter Paige Cornwell found her beat transforming from covering city council elections to reporting on the most urgently unfolding story in the country.
Word on the Beat: NAEP
What reporters need to know about the 'nation's report card'
New achievement data for the nation’s 8th graders showed a slide in history and geography, and no gains in civics, according to results released April 23. That follows sliding or stagnant scores for both 4th and 8th graders in math and reading last fall.
Child Care for Essential Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic? Not From Head Start.
The federal child care program is hamstrung under current law
Editor’s Note: This post was updated on April 28, 2020, based on new information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Teen Mental Health: Barriers to Treatment, Tips for Nuanced News Coverage
Don't leave your reader, viewer 'reeling' from your stories
When Nygel Turner was 5 or 6 years old, he would wake up in the middle of the night unable to breathe, with a lump in his throat.
He’d run to his father, who would put Vaseline on his chest. Turner’s father had written “breathe cream” in Sharpie on the Vaseline jar. It would calm Turner down every time.