Publication Date

1981

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Scantlen, Anthony J.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Journalism

LCSH

Student newspapers and periodicals; Journalism; High school

Abstract

Changes in American society over the past decade have produced changes in the quality and role of the high school student newspaper. With the quieting of student unrest and the stabilization of student- oriented issues, high school newspapers seem to have evolved into one of three categories: The first hypothesized category includes model high school newspapers characterized by those publications which abide by clearly defined professional standards of journalism while serving the needs of their constituencies, the student body and general school community. The second category includes those newspapers best described as average; it is characterized by newspapers which serve the student body and school community primarily as a positive public relations tool while adhering to some journalistic principles. The third category includes those newspapers that are newspapers in name only; it is characterized by newspapers which display little or no adherence to generally accepted journalistic principles. They often are little more than a published school calendar with minimal student participation and input. This study was designed to show the existing typology in high school newspapers by using the 24 South Inter Conference Association (SICA) high schools as a typical grouping — all are confined within the South Suburbs of Chicago, and all meet the requirements set out by the SICA school regulations. The first phase of this project was a brief questionnaire sent to high school newspaper advisers in the spring of 1979. The response showed that the newspapers would be cooperative in a more in-depth examination. The next major facet was follow-up contact in the fall of 1979. Interviews with the advisers were held, with this author as the sole interviewer. All notations and tabluations were completed solely by the author. The division in this grouping of SICA newspapers became more evident and more clearly divisible with each step of investigation. Throughout the 1979-80 school year, sample copies of each of the SICA high school newspapers were collected and read for graphic differences, which allowed the author to further confirm separations and finalize the placement of those high school newspapers into the three categories.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

v, 135 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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