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 in newspapers.
Below are links to recent letters to the editor authored by high school students.
- Not Enough Action on Utah’s Air Pollution, published in The Salt Lake Tribune, Nov. 25, 2015
- Attending Charter School Changes Student’s Life, published in the Elizabeth City (N.C.) Daily Advance, Sept. 28, 2015
- Revisit School Uniform Policy, published in the Greenville (N.C.) Daily Reflector, Sept. 14, 2015
- Battle of the Sexes, published in the Marysville (Calif.) Appeal-Democrat, Nov. 27, 2014
- Let’s Move Campaign, published in the Idaho Statesman, Oct. 23, 2014
- Payson High School Offers Excellent Education, published in the Provo Daily Herald, Sept. 20, 2014
- Mulligans Better than Housing, published in The Salt Lake Tribune, May 22, 2014
- Senate Candidate Wrong on Student Knowledge of Civics, published in the Portland (Maine) Press Herald, May 8, 2014
- No School on Veterans’ Day, published in the Deseret News (Utah), Feb. 7, 2014
- High-pressure Techniques from Military Recruiters, published in the Concord (N.H.) Monitor, May 23, 2013
- Look for Ways to Combat Pollution, published in the Myrtle Beach Sun News, May 14, 2013
- Bainbridge Needs Another Skate Park, published in the Kitsap Sun (Wash.), April 14, 2010
- Short Lunch Hours at School Aren’t Healthy, published in the Twin Falls (Idaho) Times-News, Nov. 27, 2009