About 200 teachers will be selected to attend the third annual Institute, which will take place at six universities. A total of 375 teachers have attended the Institute, which began in 2001.

“The ASNE Institutes immerse journalism advisers in the operations and practices of daily newspapers, from attracting a diverse readership to ethical decision-making to layout and photojournalism,” said Diane H. McFarlin, 2002-03 ASNE president and publisher of the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune. “Successful student newspapers depend on trained advisers for guidance and inspiration. Teachers who attend the Institute are helping shape the next diverse generation of journalists and reinforcing the benefits of a high quality, vigorous scholastic press for all students.”

For those selected, major expenses including transportation, lodging, meals, tuition and graduate credit are covered by ASNE with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The 2003 host universities are:

• Ball State University, Muncie, Ind., July 6-18.
• Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, July 6-18.
• Hampton University, Hampton, Va., June 15-27.
• University of Maryland, College Park, July 13-25.
• University of South Florida, Tampa, July 13-25.
• University of Texas at Austin, July 6-18.

A brochure and application form has been mailed to high schools throughout the country and can be downloaded at: http://www.highschooljournalism.org/teachers/asneprogramsinstitute.htm

Each university adds its unique strengths to a dozen core topics and skills workshops that include: reporting; writing; editing; photojournalism; layout and design; opinion pages; the role and future of daily newspapers; journalism credibility and ethics; and the business side of newspapers.

First Amendment matters, privacy concerns and the state of scholastic press freedoms are also key topics. Dozens of newspaper professionals are partnered with the universities, supplementing the faculty in shaping and leading the sessions.

The Institute’s overall goals are to:

• Produce teachers who are better informed about the operations, practices, news values and ethical decision making in the craft of journalism.
• Develop the writing, editing, graphic, photography, Web and business skills that teachers need to better advise students and to start or improve independent school newspapers.
• Shift the focus of many high school newspapers to fair and balanced news reporting and writing rather than essay writing and public relations.
• Instill a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the First Amendment.

Teachers who take part are asked to share their experience with at least 10 other teachers and colleagues.

Those with little or no experience will find the program highly beneficial. Teachers from schools with a diverse school population are especially encouraged to apply. Veteran advisers who want to update their skills are also welcome.

Follow-up support is key to the program’s success. Institute participation includes paid membership to the Journalism Education Association, the Student Press Law Center and the teacher’s state or regional scholastic press group.

An academic-year subscription to the teacher’s local daily newspaper for use in the classroom is arranged, as are subscriptions to American Journalism Review, Columbia Journalism Review and The American Editor. Each teacher is also provided with the building blocks of a media library, including an AP Stylebook, a primer on scholastic press law, press ethics guides, a news writing text and a design handbook.

For more information contact:

Diana Mitsu Klos
ASNE Senior Project Director
703-453-1125; dmk@asne.org