Do you have a personal story to tell?
If you’re a teen and like the idea of writing stories that will help your peers, Youth Communication is the place for you.
We have two publications: YouthComm, a magazine for teens; and Represent, our publication by and for youth in foster care. (If you are a teen in foster care, learn how to apply for the Represent writing program here.)
Teen writers are mentored by full-time professional editors, learning memoir writing and journalism skills. Our writers get to be a voice for other teens; their work is published for thousands of readers through our publications and partners like The Nation, Chalkbeat, or in Youth Communication curricula. The writing process is rigorous, involving many drafts, but with lots of support and guidance from an editor. As a group, we will participate in discussions and activities related to journalism and issues you care about. Writers will be paid $100 per published article. We will provide laptops to participants who do not have them.
You are welcome to attend in person or remotely. If you attend in person, a two-trip MetroCard will also be provided. Proper PPE and health guidelines will be followed and enforced. All writers, regardless of documentation status, can receive story payments.
•Writers must be in high school and between the ages of 15 and 20.
•Writers must commit to working with us two days a week, two hours a day (for a total of at least four hours per week), anytime between the hours of 1pm and 6pm to be arranged between you and your editor. (We do not work with writers on Fridays.)
•Writers must show proof of vaccination.
•Writers must commit to participating through the end of the semester.
We have three application periods: fall, spring, and summer. Please check back in December for details about the application cycle for Winter/Spring 2024.