No time to attend an in-person seminar? Get your training on-demand with EWA's free online series. All of our past events are archived here, with new live events scheduled throughout the year.
No time to attend an
in-person seminar? Get your training on-demand
with EWA’s free online series. All of our past events are
archived here, with new live events scheduled throughout the
year.
Journalist members of the Education Writers Association will
have an exclusive opportunity to get advice from two editors
who are buying education stories from freelancers at 2:30 p.m.
Eastern, Tuesday, May 19.
Editors at The Hechinger Report and Money will
explain how to get your pitches heard by their staffs, what
they want from freelance writers, and how much they pay.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of new teachers are licensed in
the United States. With the shuttering of schools and colleges
due to the coronavirus pandemic, states are using emergency
waivers to certify teacher candidates who are unable to complete
preparation requirements such as coursework, student teaching,
and certification exams.
Along with these swift changes come new questions about the
teacher workforce and what will happen to the educator pipeline
in the midst of a public health emergency and economic recession.
State sunshine laws and open meetings acts are meant to promote
government transparency and democratic participation. But as
COVID-19 has prompted school boards and state educational
agencies to shift to virtual meetings, reporters have already
seen slippages in adherence to transparency laws.
With big budget deadlines looming and other major decisions being
made every day, journalists and analysts are wondering if the
move to virtual meetings means virtually zero public input and
communication.
How can journalists who are (mostly) stuck at home during the
pandemic continue to cultivate sources and tell compelling
stories of the real human experience unfolding for students and
families?
Two reporters provide practical advice and strategies in this
webinar from the Education Writers Association. How can you make
the most of virtually following a student via Zoom as he tries to
learn at home? What are the best tools to cast a wide net in your
community to identify fresh voices for news coverage?
The pandemic has forced nearly every college in the country to
cancel spring classes, sent endowments plunging, and slashed
state tax revenues that had been funding public universities.
That triple whammy has already driven some colleges out of
business altogether. Many more are likely to follow. But which
ones?
In this EWA webinar, Susan Fitzgerald, who analyzes the financial
strength of colleges for the Moody’s Investors Service bond
rating agency, explains how even math-averse journalists can
investigate the financial outlook for the colleges they
cover.
With millions of K-12 students stuck at home during the pandemic,
the nation is engaged in a massive, crisis-driven experiment in
remote learning. What do education journalists need to know to
better understand and report on what’s happening? To help address
that question, EWA is turning to one of the pioneers in online
learning — Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan.
As geysers of alarming health and economic news and rumors flood
the public sphere, communication specialists struggle to
disseminate clear, accurate information about important issues.
They’ll also help tell communities what the safest practices are
for rejoining social life as organizations roll out plans for a
new normal. It’s more important than ever for people in
communications roles to cut through the chaos of
misinformation.
Staggered start times. Classroom desks spaced six feet apart.
School buses running at half capacity. A blend of in-person and
online learning. And LOTS of handwashing.
Today’s students are struggling with separation from their social circles, the loss of important celebrations like graduation and prom, and, in many cases, life-and-death issues such as an inability to escape a turbulent home life. They’re also digital natives accustomed to socializing online and, in many cases, have used their time to create delightful moments of humor and hope.
As the coronavirus pandemic triggers widespread furloughs and
layoffs at news outlets, a growing number of education
reporters are seeking freelance opportunities to
continue covering their vitally important beat.
But which publications are paying for journalism these days?
And how can education reporters cut through the noise to get
their pitches heard?
Building strong and positive relationships with peers is a key
ingredient to healthy adolescent brain development. With social
distancing guidelines in place in response to the new
coronavirus, how will teens maintain their relationships and why
does it matter?
In what ways might teens’ savvy with technology help them cope?
What impact will the stresses of a scary disease and economic
turmoil have on youths’ mental health? Will sheltering-in-place
have a disproportionate social-emotional impact on teens as
compared with adults and young children?
For millions of K-12 students, remote learning at home has
replaced bricks-and-mortar classrooms for the foreseeable future,
as districts comply with orders to shut down schools in response
to the coronavirus pandemic.
What do reporters need to know about remote teaching and
learning? How is the shift playing out across the country? What
are compelling story ideas for reporters covering the day-to-day
aspects of this experiment in remote learning, as well as
big-picture angles for down the road?
The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
Act—dubbed the CARES Act—includes over $30 billion in relief for
schools and colleges. The unprecedented aid package, which
President Trump signed March 27, has many wondering what’s
next: How will the funds be distributed? How will relief dollars
be spent? And, is it enough?
The federal head count of the nation’s residents is underway, and
federal officials are turning to public schools to help spread
the word. The outcome of the census could have significant
implications for public schools and education funding: It helps
determine federal funding for programs and services, as well as
congressional districting.
“The Nation’s Report Card,” a.k.a. the National Assessment
of Educational Progress, is a vast gold mine of data that can
generate compelling education stories and enrich overall news
coverage with deeper context and examples.
There’s tons of education data out there, but it is spread out
among dozens of different confusing websites, making it hard to
use quickly and easily.
The Urban Institute
is trying to address that by creating a centralized K-16
education data one-stop-shop that a few journalistic early
adopters tell us is turning out to be fairly handy.
The newest round of test scores on NAEP, dubbed the “nation’s
report card,” show that only about one-third of U.S. fourth and
eighth graders are proficient in reading. The data come amid
heightened concern that reading instruction is frequently out of
step with decades of scientific research.
How effective is your local school? Sure, test scores aren’t
everything, but until recently, efforts to crunch achievement
data to draw conclusions about school quality have been
undermined by concerns about fairness: Are test scores measuring
the effectiveness of the school, or just the wealth of the
parents?
Express Webinar: Meet Editors Buying Freelance Education Stories
Editors explain how to pitch and what to expect
Journalist members of the Education Writers Association will have an exclusive opportunity to get advice from two editors who are buying education stories from freelancers at 2:30 p.m. Eastern, Tuesday, May 19.
Editors at The Hechinger Report and Money will explain how to get your pitches heard by their staffs, what they want from freelance writers, and how much they pay.
Teacher Prep, Interrupted: Licensing Educators During Coronavirus
Experts discuss emergency waivers and their potential impact
Each year, hundreds of thousands of new teachers are licensed in the United States. With the shuttering of schools and colleges due to the coronavirus pandemic, states are using emergency waivers to certify teacher candidates who are unable to complete preparation requirements such as coursework, student teaching, and certification exams.
Along with these swift changes come new questions about the teacher workforce and what will happen to the educator pipeline in the midst of a public health emergency and economic recession.
Behind (Remotely) Closed Doors: Keeping Tabs on School Boards and Leaders
State sunshine laws and open meetings acts are meant to promote government transparency and democratic participation. But as COVID-19 has prompted school boards and state educational agencies to shift to virtual meetings, reporters have already seen slippages in adherence to transparency laws.
With big budget deadlines looming and other major decisions being made every day, journalists and analysts are wondering if the move to virtual meetings means virtually zero public input and communication.
Reporting Remotely: Strategies for Sourcing From Home
How can journalists who are (mostly) stuck at home during the pandemic continue to cultivate sources and tell compelling stories of the real human experience unfolding for students and families?
Two reporters provide practical advice and strategies in this webinar from the Education Writers Association. How can you make the most of virtually following a student via Zoom as he tries to learn at home? What are the best tools to cast a wide net in your community to identify fresh voices for news coverage?
Will The Coronavirus Drive Your College Out of Business?
The pandemic has forced nearly every college in the country to cancel spring classes, sent endowments plunging, and slashed state tax revenues that had been funding public universities. That triple whammy has already driven some colleges out of business altogether. Many more are likely to follow. But which ones?
In this EWA webinar, Susan Fitzgerald, who analyzes the financial strength of colleges for the Moody’s Investors Service bond rating agency, explains how even math-averse journalists can investigate the financial outlook for the colleges they cover.
What Khan Academy’s Founder Wants You to Know About Online Learning
Sal Khan shares insights on education during the coronavirus pandemic and the future of learning
With millions of K-12 students stuck at home during the pandemic, the nation is engaged in a massive, crisis-driven experiment in remote learning. What do education journalists need to know to better understand and report on what’s happening? To help address that question, EWA is turning to one of the pioneers in online learning — Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan.
Community Member Webinar: Communicating Through the Coronavirus Era
As geysers of alarming health and economic news and rumors flood the public sphere, communication specialists struggle to disseminate clear, accurate information about important issues. They’ll also help tell communities what the safest practices are for rejoining social life as organizations roll out plans for a new normal. It’s more important than ever for people in communications roles to cut through the chaos of misinformation.
Get Ready for the ‘New (Ab)normal’: How Will School Look Different This Fall?
What reporters need to know about the coronavirus' impact
Staggered start times. Classroom desks spaced six feet apart. School buses running at half capacity. A blend of in-person and online learning. And LOTS of handwashing.
What Does the Coronavirus Recession Mean for School Finance?
With the U.S. economy having ground to a halt and the nation suddenly thrust into a recession, what are the implications for K-12 education funding?
Prioritizing Mental Health Care and Coverage During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Get story ideas and self-care tips from this double-duty webinar
Today’s students are struggling with separation from their social circles, the loss of important celebrations like graduation and prom, and, in many cases, life-and-death issues such as an inability to escape a turbulent home life. They’re also digital natives accustomed to socializing online and, in many cases, have used their time to create delightful moments of humor and hope.
Express Webinar: How to Get Your Freelance Education Stories Published
Editors explain how to pitch and what to expect
As the coronavirus pandemic triggers widespread furloughs and layoffs at news outlets, a growing number of education reporters are seeking freelance opportunities to continue covering their vitally important beat.
But which publications are paying for journalism these days? And how can education reporters cut through the noise to get their pitches heard?
Teens, Screen Time and Social Distancing During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Building strong and positive relationships with peers is a key ingredient to healthy adolescent brain development. With social distancing guidelines in place in response to the new coronavirus, how will teens maintain their relationships and why does it matter?
In what ways might teens’ savvy with technology help them cope? What impact will the stresses of a scary disease and economic turmoil have on youths’ mental health? Will sheltering-in-place have a disproportionate social-emotional impact on teens as compared with adults and young children?
Remote Learning 101 in the Time of COVID-19
What reporters need to know as students, schools, and families adjust to the new reality of distance teaching and learning
For millions of K-12 students, remote learning at home has replaced bricks-and-mortar classrooms for the foreseeable future, as districts comply with orders to shut down schools in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
What do reporters need to know about remote teaching and learning? How is the shift playing out across the country? What are compelling story ideas for reporters covering the day-to-day aspects of this experiment in remote learning, as well as big-picture angles for down the road?
Coronavirus Stimulus: What Relief Is Coming For K-12 and Higher Ed?
The $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act—dubbed the CARES Act—includes over $30 billion in relief for schools and colleges. The unprecedented aid package, which President Trump signed March 27, has many wondering what’s next: How will the funds be distributed? How will relief dollars be spent? And, is it enough?
Education Reporting That Counts: Covering the 2020 Census
The federal head count of the nation’s residents is underway, and federal officials are turning to public schools to help spread the word. The outcome of the census could have significant implications for public schools and education funding: It helps determine federal funding for programs and services, as well as congressional districting.
Stories You’re Missing From ‘The Nation’s Report Card’
“The Nation’s Report Card,” a.k.a. the National Assessment of Educational Progress, is a vast gold mine of data that can generate compelling education stories and enrich overall news coverage with deeper context and examples.
Learn About a Handy New Free Education Data Tool
There’s tons of education data out there, but it is spread out among dozens of different confusing websites, making it hard to use quickly and easily.
The Urban Institute is trying to address that by creating a centralized K-16 education data one-stop-shop that a few journalistic early adopters tell us is turning out to be fairly handy.
The Science of Reading and School Leadership
The newest round of test scores on NAEP, dubbed the “nation’s report card,” show that only about one-third of U.S. fourth and eighth graders are proficient in reading. The data come amid heightened concern that reading instruction is frequently out of step with decades of scientific research.
Using Big Data for Education Story Ideas
How effective is your local school? Sure, test scores aren’t everything, but until recently, efforts to crunch achievement data to draw conclusions about school quality have been undermined by concerns about fairness: Are test scores measuring the effectiveness of the school, or just the wealth of the parents?
How Schools Are Responding to Vaping Health Concerns
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that children (under the age of 18) make up 14 percent of the 2,051 cases of lung illnesses connected to vaping.