Celebrating NIE Week
This annual event is a fantastic opportunity for publishers and marketing departments, news rooms, circulation and advertising directors to learn the importance of Newspaper in Education (NIE) programs, too.
Reading every day is imperative for all people, especially children. Reading increases vocabulary, writing
skills and knowledge of the world around us. What better way to increase knowledge about the world than by reading the local newspaper?
Did you know that more than 60 percent of people with high exposure to newspapers in childhood are regular readers of newspapers as adults, according to a study conducted for the News Media Alliance, former Newspaper Association of America Foundation? That percentage is significant because statistically people who read the newspaper daily are more engaged citizens. Engaged citizens participate in their communities by voting and practicing good citizenship.
The goal of NIE programs is to create a generation of critical readers, engaged citizens and consumers. John F. Kennedy said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.” The goal of NIE is to engage and develop that resource.
The No. 1 reason to use newspapers in education at school and at home is the newspaper provides readers with a living textbook. The newspaper is an opportunity and a resource for students to practice higher-order comprehension skills. It is the job of NIE programs across the Florida to not only provide that resource, but also to encourage active teacher and student engagement of resource.
Using newspapers as a teaching tool can improve reading skills and student performance on standardized tests. In addition, reading the newspaper at school and home helps young people learn about the world around them.
Teachers utilize newspaper activities to promote learning, support Florida Standard benchmarks and expectations, plus have fun interpreting photos, advertisements, cartoons and headlines. Newspapers add dynamic dimensions to all subjects, from Language Arts to business to science and everything in between. NIE programs around Florida partner local businesses and government organizations to promote community engagement, awareness and encourage real-world education lessons that combine educational marketing goals of the businesses with the needs of the schools.
To learn more about Florida’s NIE programs, visit the Florida Press Educational Services (FPES) Web site
at fpesnie.org.
Jodi Pushkin, President Florida Press Educational Services
Jodi Pushkin is the President of Florida Press Educational Services. She is the manager for the Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education program. Jodi holds an M.A. in English Education and a B.A. in writing and literature. Jodi has worked in NIE for the past 17 years. Jodi is a former public school teacher. In addition to her work with NIE, Jodi is an adjunct instructor at Saint Leo University and Hillsborough Community College. Contact Jodi via e-mail at jpushkin@tampabay.com or call 727-893-8961.
Gail Acosta of Navarre Press serves on the executive board of Florida Press Educational Services. Navarre Press publishes an NIE page weekly for use in our schools. This week’s education page and activity is on page A6.