Black Students Are the Future of Journalism

For over a century, the Black press has been a force for change: Ida B. Wells investigated lynching for the Chicago Defender when no one else would, reporters at the Baltimore Afro documented the all-Black-women “Six Triple Eight” battalion during World War II, and the St. Louis American amplified protests after the killing of Michael Brown — all with a commitment to reporting stories about Black communities that white-owned media largely ignored. 

“If we’re not in these newsrooms, nobody’s able to tell our stories,” says Phil Lewis, senior editor at HuffPost. Lewis co-coordinates the Urban Journalism Workshop, a Washington, D.C.-based program run through the Washington Association of Black Journalists that teaches local high school students the fundamentals of reporting.

And then there are the Black journalists holding down the fort in mainstream newsrooms— often the only Black reporter or editor at their outlet, or one of a handful, doing their best to ensure an accurate coverage of Black America. However, according to a 2023 Pew Research Report, Black journalists comprise just 6% of the U.S. media workforce, and the pipeline for the next generation of storytellers is shrinking due to limited opportunities. 

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“One of the most important things we can do as Black journalists isn’t just telling stories — it’s uplifting the next generation of storytellers,” he says.

Providing Access

A 2022 study from Baruch College revealed that 73% of public schools in New York City — the largest district in the nation — lack student newspapers or journalism programs. Only seven out of 100 high schools in NYC with predominantly low-income populations have a student newspaper. For young Black students, Lewis says, journalism isn’t on their radar, not because they lack interest but because they lack access.

“We work with students from ninth to 12th grade, and they’re giving up their Saturdays to learn journalism,” Lewis says. “That tells me the interest is still there — we just need to provide the right opportunities.”

Lewis’s program in D.C., which has been running since 1986, offers students hands-on journalism training, field trips, and guest lectures from professional journalists.

“We cover everything from framing a story, pitching, editing, and even how to do things for TV,” Lewis says. “Not every student we work with will be a journalist, and that’s OK, too. But no matter what, they will need to know how to read, write, and communicate. We’re giving them skills they’re not always getting in school, and that’s just as important.”

Their Voice Matters

While national statistics on the number of K-12 student newspapers are scarce, Larry Knight, a veteran educator and longtime advisor of The Devil’s Advocate, a student newspaper at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville, Florida, says that over the years, he’s seen too many student journalism programs disappear.  

“When I first started, there were so many more schools with active student newspapers,” Knight recalls. “Over time, I watched those numbers dwindle, for some, possibly due to budget cuts and lack of school support. But it’s not that students aren’t interested — schools just aren’t prioritizing journalism anymore.”

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Knight works to preserve The Devil’s Advocate by ensuring students maintain editorial control, choose their own stories, and tackle issues that matter to them.

“We have a diverse student body, and the stories we tell should reflect that,” he says. “They’ve covered the declining Black student population at Stanton and the erasure of Black history from Florida’s curriculum. These are the stories I refuse to let them bury because their voice matters too much.”

Don’t Wait for Permission

Both Lewis and Knight agree that the survival of the Black press will require investment, access to resources, and commitment from educators, Black-led media, and communities.

However, Knight emphasizes that there are also creative ways K-12 public schools can keep student journalism alive.

“Even if a school can’t afford a print newspaper, they can launch a digital publication or partner with a local Black newsroom,” he says.

Beyond that, Lewis wants Black students to know that power isn’t dependent on permission. Storytelling has always been a form of resistance, and in an era when media is more accessible than ever, young Black journalists have the tools to shape their own narratives.

“There are more ways to tell stories now than ever before. You don’t have to wait for permission,” Lewis says. “Start a blog, write on Substack, document your community on social media. Journalism is about storytelling, and nobody can tell your story better than you.”

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