 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Mary Jo Knobloch, MPH, Ronda Kopelke, and Gladys Bartelt, MSE. Center for Community Outreach-Youth Press Initiative, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 North Oak Avenue, Marshfield, WI 54449, 715-221-8421, knobloch.maryjo@marshfieldclinic.org
The Youth Press Program began in 1997 as an effort to provide seven northwest Wisconsin schools an opportunity to train and organize youth to engage in journalism endeavors. Since then, the effort has become a community-based program of the Center for Community Outreach, Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield, Wisconsin. Known as Youth Press of Wisconsin, the program enjoys the sponsorship and support of many statewide organizations and has expanded to include youth from across the state. Youth Press staff work closely with teams of youth and adults, offering educational opportunities and technical assistance on skills relevant to working with schools, community newspapers, local radio and television stations. Youth and adult leaders are offered the chance to explore various forms of media advocacy and media literacy issues-specifically targeted to preventing underage drinking, including the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors. This all culminates in the design and implementation of issue-oriented media strategies that, by giving youth the opportunity to have a voice in their communities, have a powerful impact at the local level. The most celebrated product of this effort is the Youth Press of Wisconsin News, a newspaper written and produced by youth three times per year with distribution through schools, libraries and youth organizations around the state. A 12-member youth editorial board composed of high school students from throughout Wisconsin guides the newspaper work. Youth Press of Wisconsin has evolved into a dynamic form of community-based and media-centered youth development.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Media Advocacy, Youth at Work
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.