Name: ___________________________________________
Day/Period: _____________________________
Roles of High School Newspapers
Every newspaper, and especially a high school newspaper, has various roles to play along
with stated or implied goals. All high school newspapers fill these roles to some degree,
some more than others. Focusing efforts in specific areas will improve the newspaper’s
effectiveness and better serve its readers (and advertisers).
1. News Reporting
a.
b.
c.
emphasizes coverage of what is happening in the school
based upon duty to readers’ “right to know”
gatekeeper function that controls reader’s access to news
2. Matter of Record
a.
b.
records the events and activities over the entire year
newspaper as future historical document
3. School Spirit
a.
b.
promotes the positive aspects of school events and activities
advocacy journalism – supporting a particular cause or perspective
4. Entertainment
a.
b.
showing the lighter, humorous side of student and school life
often perceived as what most people want, but not necessarily
5. Reader Culture
a.
b.
giving the readers what they want no matter what
can come into conflict with other roles
assumes a homogenous readership
c.
6. Professionalism and Educational Purposes
a.
b.
newspaper imitates the best in the commercial press
adopting professional standards of journalism
lab for learning news production skills
c.
7. Leadership
a.
b.
c.
taking a stance to guide readers toward solutions to problems or conflicts
function of editorial and commentary
media as agenda-setter and political watchdog
8. Public Forum
a.
b.
c.
place for readers to “sound off” on issues and concerns
outlet for student debate and dissent
media as a marketplace where people exchange ideas
9. Community Image
a.
b.
c.
public relations function
newspaper as official publication
responding to the audience outside the school
10. Interpretation and Analysis
a.
b.
o
examining the impact of news on students’ lives
push beyond the superficial and educate readers
time-intensive and difficult to pull off successfully
David Schiopota
Barberton High School
Barberton, Ohio
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