Press Pass NYC

In the media capital of New York City, 73% of public high schools lack student newspapers—according to a 2022 Baruch College study. Even more alarming, 93% of the city’s 100 highest poverty high schools don’t have student newspapers. Press Pass NYC is addressing this inequity. We equip under-resourced schools with the free faculty training, student resources and program support necessary to start and sustain a student-led school newspaper. In just 3 years, we've helped 27 NYC public schools launch mission-driven, community-centered, student-led newspapers in print and online, creating a vibrant and passionate community of journalism educators and student journalists. These student-led outlets have produced over 1,000 news stories and won 10 awards. Stories by our student journalists have led to revived field-trips and even $100,000 in city funding for school gym renovations. Research shows that teens who work on student newspapers have higher GPAs. Scholastic journalism builds critical thinking, collaboration, leadership and communication. It also fosters agency, responsibility and community. Journalism helps young people gain confidence, explore identity, contribute civically and combat disinformation. Our goal over the next decade is to help every public high school in the city create a student-led news outlet, and to become a model for communities nationwide.