Yakima Herald-Republic: Youth Editorial

Category: Youth Editorial, circulation up to 60,000

Address: 114 N. 4th Street, P.O. Box 9668, Yakima, WA 98901

Submitted by: Adriana Janovich, ajanovich@yakimaherald.com, Unleashed program coordinator, (509) 577-7653David Goehner, david.goehner@esd105.org, ESD 105 Public Information Officer, (509) 454-3131

Newspaper circulation & section frequency: 40,000 circulation; “Unleashed” is a bi-weekly feature, with additional appearances in the newspaper on an intermittent basis, plus a regularly updated page on the newspaper’s Web site

Description: After budget cuts forced cancelation of its popular, decade-old “Unleashed” feature that showcased stories and photography produced by area teenagers, the region’s daily newspaper was able to revive the youth journalism program through a unique cooperative created this past year with several of the school districts in its service area.

Target of project: High school students (age 14-19), plus all ages for general readership

An innovative alliance that brought a newspaper’s teen journalism feature back to life in 2009 …

Introducing: An innovative alliance …An alliance between a group of school leaders and their region’s daily newspaper that in 2009 resurrected a program designed to teach teens about the journalism experience and, in turn, teach newspaper readers about the teens in their communities.

An alliance that, despite a time of transition in the print journalism industry, serves as model on how youth sections can continue to be a part of the American newspaper….

The Birth of Unleashed:

In 1999, the Yakima Herald-Republic in central Washington launched a feature in its pages containing stories and photographs produced by teens.

Called “Unleashed”, this program provided area high school students practical experience in being professional journalists, and gave readers an opportunity to share in the lives, interests, and perspectives of the area’s young people.

Unleashed developed a fan base of readers from all ages who enjoyed the weekly feature.

The student staff members earned state and national awards for their work.

Younger students looked forward to being able to apply to join Unleashedwhen they entered high school.

In the course of 10 years, some 250 students became part of the Unleashed team. Many moved on to major in journalism at college and enter careers in the communication field.

And then …

“Unleashed” staffers cope with finalityTeen journalists bid farewell to successful program at YH-R

Unleashed – the award-winning youth program at the Yakima Herald Republic – is ending.

The struggling economy and a newspaper industry in transition have caught up with the Herald-Republic and its 10-year-old teen program, according to newspaper editors.

“It was a hard decision, but when asked to look for areas to cut in the newsroom budget, the next biggest expense outside of staffing and wire services was Unleashed,” said interim editor Barbara Serrano.

The expenses for Unleashed include correspondent pay for student reporters, photographers, and illustrators, pizza and pop at monthly team meetings, and dedicated staff time from reporter/coordinator Adriana Janovich, a staff photographer, and copy editors.

From the Yakima Herald-Republic, February 16, 2009:

To the editor:“We were extremely disappointed when we learned that Unleashed is being eliminated. … This section … offered the youth of our Valley a creative outlet to express themselves, to broaden knowledge, learn resources and to interact with others on both a personal and business level.”

Ruth KlepachYakima, Washington

“I grew up in the pages of Unleashed, and because of that became a young adult with greater promise and loftier dreams than my family or I could ever have imagined. The section will be missed by the readers it touched, the students who shaped it, and the incredible mentors who helped the section be what it was.”

Olivia HernandezSeattle

“I was saddened when I read that Unleashed will no longer be a part of the Yakima Herald-Republic. … It was a part of the newspaper my middle school students could really relate to. I already had students anxious to apply for next year’s staff.”

Virginia Van AmburgYakima, Washington

“I am saddened to read that, due to funding, Unleashed has been eliminated. … These talented young women and men are willing to be in the forefront of Yakima news, then rewarded and valued in a way that is public, positive, and proactive. This hands-on community involvement is what the classroom teachers and principals would like all children to experience. …What effort has been made to find alternative funding sources?”

Diana HillisSelah, Washington

An alternative funding source:A new cooperative with area school districts

Educational Service District 105 in Yakima is one of nine agencies in the state of Washington that provides regional services to support and improve the learning programs at public and private schools.

Dr. Jane Gutting, superintendent of ESD 105, met with some of the region’s 25 public school district superintendents and proposed a revival of the “Unleashed” program through a new cooperative established with the school districts.

“The educators in our schools agreed with the outpouring of community support for Unleashed following its loss. Unleashed gave students from across our region a valuable opportunity to learn about and be part of the journalism experience. We also felt it was good for the adults in the community to hear the ideas and viewpoints of our area’s youth.”

– Jane Gutting, superintendent of ESD 105

Gutting met with executives from The Yakima Herald-Republic to assess what would be required to fund the student feature again.

The newspaper’s leaders determined about $12,000 would be needed to cover the program’s expenses for one year at a reduced level, if the feature went to bi-weekly and had a smaller student staff. The newspaper could absorb some of the additional publishing costs.

The plan with the school districts:• Each school district or private school choosing to participate would provide units of $500 into the newly formed “Unleashed Cooperative”

• Each $500 unit would fund one student on the Unleashed staff for one year from the participating district (unless no student from the school district applied).

• Only students attending a school district participating in the Unleashed Cooperative could apply to be on the Unleashed staff.

• School districts (particularly larger ones) could choose to participate in more than one $500 unit in order to place additional students from their high school(s).

The Cooperative’s Budget:

• $6,000 (paid at $500 per month): Contract to hire a part-time coordinator for Unleashed – The program’s previous coordinator applied for and was hired for the position. This position is now outside of the reporter’s regular, full-time duties with the newspaper.

• $3,710: Payment of students for their assignments – Students are paid $15 for each story or photo published in the newspaper, $7.50 for stories that only appear in Unleashed’s online edition (provided at the newspaper’s Web site), and $5 for brief student profile pieces that only appear online.

• $880: Pizza and pop for monthly staff meetings – These meetings include presentations by veteran journalists and other speakers that provide learning experiences for the student staff on various aspects of the journalism field. Students also receive updates on assignments.

• $220: Awards – Students at each meeting vote on their favorite contributions from the past month, and the top two vote-getters receive movie passes.

• $1,190: ESD agency indirect administrative costs

The Result:

• The cooperative launched with the participation of 11 school districts and two private schools.

• Eleven of the schools each funded one $500 unit.

• The Yakima School District funded positions for 9 of its students at $4,500.

• The adjacent West Valley School District funded positions for 3 of its students at $1,500.

• The local William O. Douglas Chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists contributed $500 to fund one additional student from one of the cooperative’s schools.

• The newspaper and school superintendents reached the cooperative’s goal of $12,000.

The Rebirth of Unleashed:

From the Yakima Herald-Republic, July 20, 2009:

Educators help revive student-written Unleashed

Unleashed came to an end earlier this year, the result of severe budget cuts this newspaper had to make.

But the special section produced by teens did not go quietly. Letters and phone calls poured in, urging the newspaper to reverse its decision. The most vocal of those who wanted Unleashed saved were educators. They saw the value of getting high school students interested in interviewing different people from all walks of life and writing about topics that mattered most in their young lives.

So it comes with great satisfaction to see Educational Service District 105 and a number of school districts throughout Central Washington stepping forward and bringing Unleashed back into publication.

“The Comeback Kids” page

• After a more than seven-month absence, Unleashed returned to the Yakima-Herald Republic on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

• Student staff members were recruited during August through promotions in the newspaper, contacts with former staff members, and e-mails sent by ESD 105 to high school offices and area journalism teachers.

• Unleashed now appears every other Sunday on the front of the newspaper’s “Life in the Northwest” section.

• Stories and photos by the student staff also appear on an irregular basis in other editions of the newspaper. The familiar “Unleashed” logo is attached with these additional stories.

“I am so grateful to Educational Service District 105 and the schools and school districts that sponsored Unleashed back to life. Without their support, Unleashed would still be a memory of a great opportunity instead of something that teens can still actively be involved in. …

“Unleashed has given me so much – and not just in writing. It has given me confidence to go up to people and talk to them. It has given me the responsibility of an adult. It has shown me what I say or think can make a difference.”

Jasmine OkbinogluEisenhower High School senior4-year “Unleashed” member(Yakima Herald-Republic – October 4, 2009)

From the student staff:

From the student staff:

“I’ve been following Unleashed since I was in sixth grade and always wanted to write for it. …

“Unleashed seems like a step closer to becoming what I want to be when I grow up. By the end of our first meeting, I felt I had already learned so much. It was surreal. And when I walked through the newsroom, it looked like the kind of place I imagine myself working someday. …

“Unleashed has been life-changing for students who have gone through the program, and I think it will be for me, too.”

Alyssa WickenhagenHighland High School freshman1st year “Unleashed” member(Yakima Herald-Republic – October 4, 2009)

Sunday sections

Some individual articles

Unleashed Web page from Yakima Herald-Republic Web Site:

http://unleashed.yakimablogs.com/

• The 2009-2010 Unleashed team has involved 25 students from 13 of the region’s high schools.

• The revived program includes 12 returning members and 13 students who have become part of the Unleashed experience for the first time.

ESD 105 Regional School Districts (Unleashed Co-Op districts in color)

Co-Op also includes Riverside Christian and La Salle private schools

“I am very grateful thatthis program has helped me to becomemore confident and outgoing in my community. Being allowed to understand other people’s lives and to share them through print is a rewarding and humbling experience.”

Georgia GemplerDavis High School sophomore2nd year “Unleashed” staff member

“I wanted to be part of Unleashed because getting a jump start on college possibilities includes making yourself uncomfortable with your surroundings. Having joined the program, I am confident speaking with people I have just met and my writing abilities have drastically improved. This is the best thing to happen to me.”

Hannah SouersWest Valley High School sophomore1st year Unleashed staff memberFrom the student staff:

From the student staff:

“Last February, when I found out Unleashed was going to be cut in the middle of my junior year of high school, I was devastated. … Why would anyone cut off teenagers’ voices? How could anyone eliminate a 10-year-old, award-winning youth program? Was it really possible that other local teenagers would never experience the same feeling I did when I saw my [first story] published in the newspaper?

“Every student reporter, photographer and artist on the team had to learn to let go of his or her once-amazing opportunity to share ideas with the community. …

“Thank you to the schools and school districts for coming together and providing the funds so local teenagers can be heard again. … We will not let you down.”

Mia WalshDavis High School senior4-year “Unleashed” member(Yakima Herald-Republic – October 4, 2009)