Journalism for All

 Justice for All Logo 

For the 2025 - 26 School Year, Creators Academy was chosen as one of 30 pilot schools to be part of a cityhall initiative called Journalist for All. The program aims to increase the number of student run news publications across the city. It is a collaboration with the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism.

The class is taught to 10th and 12th graders by Ms. Castillo and focuses on Media Literacy, News Writing, Language Skills, and Writing Skills.

Below is the class syllabus. 

 two students apart of journalism for all 

Syllabus

Journalism is an English Language Arts course where students don’t just study journalism — they become journalists. Over this course, you will read, write, and analyze news and opinion pieces, while also creating content for a student-run publication. The class blends media literacy with real-world writing, so your work isn’t just for a grade — it’s for an audience.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

Media Literacy

  • Understand how information is created and shared.
  • Recognize bias, ownership, and influence in different media.
  • Evaluate sources for credibility and accuracy.

News Writing

  • Write straight news stories that answer the 5Ws and H.
  • Report on school and community issues fairly and accurately.
  • Use interviews, research, and data to strengthen your reporting.

Opinion & Feature Writing

  • Craft persuasive op-eds and editorials using strong evidence.
  • Write profiles and feature stories that go deeper into people and events.
  • Use narrative techniques (anecdotes, quotes, description) to engage readers.

Collaboration & Publication

  • Take on newsroom roles (reporter, editor, designer, fact-checker, etc).
  • Work in editorial meetings to plan and revise stories.
  • Publish and share writing with real readers through the student-run publication.

ELA & Regents Skills

  • Read closely and analyze nonfiction texts for argument and purpose.
  • Write clear, evidence-based responses under timed conditions.
  • Build vocabulary and demonstrate control of grammar and conventions.

🔄 What Class Will Look Like

Do Nows & White Board Polls: Start class with short reflections or current event responses.

Close Reading of Media: Analyze articles, videos, and infographics.

Editorial Meetings: Plan coverage, assign roles, and give feedback as a newsroom.

Writing Workshops: Draft, revise, and polish articles for publication.

Exit Tickets: End class with a quick reflection or check-in.

Projects: Each unit ends with a published piece that contributes to our student-run publication.

📝 How You’ll Be Graded

Class Participation – 20%
Engagement in discussions, editorial meetings, and newsroom roles.

Do Nows, Exit Tickets, and Homework – 30%
Do Nows, whiteboard polls, reflections, viewing guides, and homework assignments.

Essays, Projects, Tests and Timed Writing – 50%
News stories, editorials, features, and multimedia projects, timed tests.