Reading was my first love. At a young age, I buried myself in the pages of a book for hours on end. If I happened to be at a particularly wonderful part when it was time for bed, I’d position my book in any stream of light I could find from elsewhere in the house, so I could read a while longer.
Whenever I have a chance to talk to students, I stress the importance of developing good reading habits. Books, magazines, newspapers and Web sites offer a window to the world and all it offers. Even as newspapers adjust their products to offer news and information online as well as in print, they remain a rich source of information about what’s happening now. Where else can you find local news explained in a way that helps you understand why it’s important to you?
Next week, the newspaper will publish its last News for Kids pages in print. Since the AJC has offered this feature for nearly 18 years, many Atlantans have grown up reading this feature. Later this summer, News for Kids will shift to an online-content model that teachers can continue to use in the classroom.
Debuting in July, the new model will be an online replica of the print newspaper. Teachers and students will be able to read, search and browse AJC pages online. Lesson planning will continue to be a strong component of the newspaper’s education efforts.
“In schools, textbooks are on a seven-year rotation, so the things they read are outdated,” said Patrick White, the AJC’s education resource manager. “The newspaper is the most up-to-date textbook available.”
Statistics found on the sports pages can be used to teach math; health and home economics teachers can share exercise and nutrition information from the weekly Better Health and Food sections. Social studies and English teachers can find a treasure-trove of current events and writing assignments.
A former social studies teacher in DeKalb County, White ought to know. He frequently used newspapers in his classroom to make lessons more timely and relevant. For many years, the News for Kids pages were predominantly used by students in the early grades, he said. In recent years, White and his colleagues have focused their efforts on middle and high school students, who make up 76 percent of News for Kids’ classroom readers. In the coming weeks, teachers can sign up for the AJC’s revamped education program at no cost at edu.ajc.com.
We realize print readers of all ages will miss the weekly News for Kids pages. The newspaper isn’t going to stop offering content that students and their parents will find interesting. In fact, we hope you’ll continue to help us find those stories. There’s a great deal of excitement in our newsroom about new products and features that will debut in the coming months. Groups of readers are involved in testing these new concepts and, as always, we welcome feedback from all our readers.
On the afternoons of June 4 and Aug. 7, I’ll be hosting two reader open houses. If you’re interested in learning more about how the AJC operates, send me a brief bio, your contact information and a short note on why you’d like to attend.
For more information about News for Kids online, contact White at pwhite@ajc.com or call at 404-526-7891 or 1-800-694-7127.
Who’s the new editorial writer? Several readers have noticed a new byline on the AJC’s editorials. Andre Jackson, a native of St. Louis, has joined the board in recent weeks.
Jackson, formerly the business editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, writes mostly about business and economic issues, but he’s adding his voice to other topics the board weighs in on. Though a majority of the AJC’s editorial board can be described as liberal, Jackson is a moderate.
“I consider myself an independent politically, meaning I assess my politics based on past performance and logic, not party lines. That said, I’d classify myself as center-right on fiscal and economic issues and a centrist to slightly center-left on many, but not all, social matters.”
Jackson is struck by the vibrancy of Atlanta’s economy. “And the legendary horror stories about traffic really are true in many cases and on many roads,” he said.
In adding Jackson to the board, editorial board editor Cynthia Tucker notes that associate editor Jim Wooten will now have company, at least on some issues.
