The civic payoff is greater for students who take more journalism classes and for those who contribute to a news publication. Students who have taken journalism for more than a year and those who contribute to a news publication are more likely than less experienced journalists and those who do not contribute to a news… Read More »
Journalists answered 15 questions about being civically engaged in adulthood. They rated how likely they will be to express their opinions using conventional and social media, contact elected officials, sign petitions, promote issues and candidates, and vote in elections. That’s why this study is meaningful: It shows that civic-media efficacy is related to — and… Read More »
Respondents came from 42 public and private high schools in metropolitan Kansas City (in Kansas and Missouri), and in Wichita. Surveys were administered online. Surveys were administered online. Student journalists and journalism teachers completed separate surveys. To measure media-civic efficacy, we first asked students to identify an issue they felt needed addressing in their schools… Read More »
Click here for a two-page summary of the study’s findings in PDF.
Using Scholastic Journalism to Affect Student Civic Engagement Using data from the survey, we developed a set of five lessons to assist journalism and social studies teachers advance their students’ civic efficacy through the principles of journalism. Click on this link or the graphic to the left to download a PDF containing the lessons. The… Read More »
Writing a letter to the editor or publishing a blog post that expresses an opinion on an issue can serve as the first step to using journalism for civic purposes. Before they write their own letters or blog posts, it may be helpful for students to read letters from their peers that have been published… Read More »
Peter (Piotr) Bobkowski, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas. He received a doctorate in mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2010. Bobkowski has been involved in high school journalism for 15 years. He was publications… Read More »
Kayla Schartz is studying broadcast journalism and sociology at the University of Kansas and will graduate in May 2016. She was involved in student media throughout her time at Ellinwood High School, eventually serving as editor-in-chief of the yearbook her senior year. She has continued to be involved in student media at KU, serving as… Read More »
Alec Voss is a sophomore from Houston, majoring in strategic communications and finance. He is a journalism ambassador and serves as secretary for the university’s PRSSA chapter. In his spare time, he enjoys participating in community service and attending KU basketball games. After graduation, Alec hopes to enter the field of investor relations or financial… Read More »
Becky Miller worked with the research team prior to graduating in May 2014 with degrees in Spanish and Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communication. During her time at KU, Becky gained research experience through her coursework in the School of Journalism in classes such as Research Methods and Strategic Campaigns. Outside of the classroom… Read More »