Yesterday I substitute-taught a journalism class.

[no_hypocrisy]

Seventh grade level. Good, well-funded public school. Kids bright. 20 students.

I took a survey to see how much the kids were involved with media, journalism, etc.

Nobody read newspapers. Not even local ones.

Nobody watched the network news.

One kid watched CNN. (Well, at least, nobody admitted watching FOX . . . . . )

Nobody read weekly magazines like Time or U.S. World News Report.

Nobody listened to talk radio. (OK, maybe that's a plus.)

And nobody went online for news.



All they get are random articles copied by the teacher. They aren't interested in journalism beyond that.

[Scuba]

1. Hope you were able to stimulate some interest ...

... and some skepticism.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Yeah, me too.

I can't stand the idea that the kids are "studying" journalism without a scintilla of curiosity about how so-called journalism is demonstrated out there. If I were the teacher, I'd have the kids each bring in a provocative article each week to discuss.

[zbdent]

3. You just met the next wave of

what the media considers "investigative reporting" ...

[TxDemChem]

4. That is so sad

I took a journalism class in the 7th grade as well and we were required to independently find stories from 3 different types of sources every week. I still read the paper and watch the news everyday after taking that class. They should revamp their curriculum. It's a scary thought that students could be taught journalism without really delving into journalism.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Thank you. Well stated.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

6. That's the scary part

about 'on line' news. With a paper, it's there, it's readable. On line you have to go tot he website, download and read it on a screen that's usually much smaller than a paper. I'm not surprised younger people don't read newspapers. Which means they aren't really informed and can by prey to manipulation...........

[LWolf]

7. Staying away from

tv and radio news in the U.S. is a plus.

Journalism students should, of course, be immersed in a wide variety of news sources. The only reason I see to watch news on American tv or listen to it on the radio is to analyze examples of bad journalism.

[duffyduff]

8. A LOT of middle school kids don't read up on the news

It's always been that way because kids typically don't think a lot outside of their immediate experience until high school.

It has everything to do with child development and forming abstract thoughts.

What I am concerned about are people who post on DU and other places who think newspapers are dead, hard copy books are dead because renting "ebooks" is better than actually OWNING an author's book, and actually think blogs provide news.

THAT is what is scary.

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Kids don't read or keep up with the news because their parents don't

People don't subscribe to newspapers anymore. They don't read for pleasure as much as they used to. Cable TV means there are hundreds channels with programming which is mind numbing for the most part. Kids are allowed to play video games for hours.