Lift Every Voice

YC writer Enoch Naklen and New York City Council Member Rita Joseph collaborated on this op-ed in conjunction with the passage of two resolutions that CM Joseph introduced. Those resolutions mandate that all NYC high schools support a student newspaper and provide ongoing data about those journalism programs.

Enoch Naklen: 

Several years ago, I wanted to write about gentrification in my neighborhood. I pitched the idea to my editor at Youth Communication. She encouraged me to zoom into the specific aspects of my neighborhood, appreciating what it was, while reconciling with what it’s become. 

As I walked around a neighborhood that became progressively unrecognizable to me, I wrote about how AriZona Teas went from costing a dollar to $1.25 last year, and how the “familiarity of playing with a dark face like my own” was becoming increasingly distant. In the moment, while exploring with my editor, I tried to capture the voices of the community, but also to express my own voice, which I previously had silenced. 

My high school English teacher read my published story and commended me for publishing such an unadulterated, credible story and sharing it with teens and adults who could resonate with my voice and experiences and learn from them.  

”Thank you so much,” I responded, feeling particularly happy for my dark skin at that moment, which concealed the blood rushing to my face. I thought it was cool that there was an audience who opted to read a thoughtful, researched take on an issue that affects so many of us instead of the hot takes of social media. 

I felt the power of being published and the gift of learning the skills of reporting and constructing a narrative argument with the help of an editor.

I felt the power of being published and the gift of learning the skills of reporting and constructing a narrative argument with the help of an editor. And the thoughtful perspective of a Black teenager on gentrification was not heard enough in public discussions of displacement.  

I was lucky that I had found Youth Communication. But writing programs unaffiliated with schools, such as YC, The Bell, and Radio Rookies can’t accept everyone who applies. Shouldn’t every New York City teen have such an outlet? Where were all the school newspapers?  

 A recent study from Baruch College reveals a stark reality: Only about 1 in 4 public high schools has a student news outlet. Only 6% of the city’s 50 poorest schools have school newspapers, compared to 72% of  the 50 wealthiest schools. The divide was similar when comparing predominantly Black and Latino schools with mostly White and Asian schools.  

CM Rita Joseph: 

The disparity Enoch describes is precisely why I am so dedicated to advocating for a more equitable and accessible journalism experience for New City’s high school students. Through initiatives like directing students to opportunities beyond their schools and organizing journalism conventions, the Youth Journalism Coalition, or YJC, strives to bridge these gaps.  

Last April, YJC mobilized students and advocates to City Hall to promote youth journalism equity and unveil the “Journalism for All” initiative. Partnering with YJC, the City Council passed a resolution calling on the Department of Education to provide support for a student newspaper at every high school.  

This is an important first step, but we need to make sure the DOE follows through. So, recently, again in partnership with the Youth Journalism Coalition, I introduced a resolution Int.1057 calling on the DOE to provide an annual report on journalism courses, clubs, and student publications available at each high school. (Editor’s note: The resolution has since been passed into law.) Now more than ever, we must invest in supporting and facilitating the input of student voices through all avenues. 

Of the resolution, Keith Hefner, the founder of Youth Communication, says, “In a democracy, school newspapers should be seen as essential components of learning, like English and math. Council Member Joseph’s resolution will reveal which schools are following through with their journalism programs and which are denying students this fundamental opportunity.”   

Enoch Naklen: 

I believe that, with high school newspapers in every school and other teen writing programs like Youth Communication, along with the advocacy of champions like Council Member Rita Joseph, we can nurture the values of authenticity and community-driven reporting I benefited from. Writing for publication deepened my commitment to equity and democracy, and every New York City public school student deserves a voice.