Office of Program Development
151 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Telephone:  317.232.9131

ANNOUNCEMENT

The new High School Journalism Standards were approved unanimously by the Indiana State Board of Education on October 3, 2007.

The standards were written to proved academic content standards specifically for Journalism (1080).  They may also be used to inform the development of course content for Mass Media (1084) and Student Publications (1086).

The national reviewers praised these standards as "excellent" and a "set of academically rigorous standards that covers all aspects and areas of the field comprehensively and in depth" (Dr. Sandra Stotsky, 21st Century Chair in Teacher Quality, Department of Education Reform, University of Arkansas) and as "thorough, comprehensive, thoughtful and rigorous" (Dr. Jack Dvorak, Director of the High School Journalism Institute, Indiana University-Bloomington).

The standards have four notable features that make them excellent. 

• They integrate reading and writing, as in the English/language arts academic standards.  The reading standards are Standard 1 (Historical Perspectives), Standard 2 (Law and Ethics), and Standard 3 (Media Analysis).  The writing standards are Standard 4 (Journalistic Writing Processes), Standard 5 (Writing for Media), Standard 6 (Technology and Design), and Standard 7 (Media Leadership and Career Development).
• They prompt in-depth discussions and study of not only students' rights but also their responsibilities regarding scholastic journalism.  See Standard 2 (Law and Ethics).
• They address the current increasing influence of media.  See Standard 1 (Historical Perspectives), Standard 3 (Media Analysis), and Standard 6 (Technology and Design).
• They provide students and teachers with examples of award-winning models, essential topics for discussion, and quality resources.  See Standard 1 (Historical Perspectives), Standard 2 (Law and Ethics), and Standard 3 (Media Analysis).

For further information, contact Dr. Mary Andis, Director of English/Language Arts
(mandis@doe.in.gov).