How to apply to Making a Difference
and examine previous stories

The first Making a Difference in 1988 showed how students reported the impact of the Hazelwood decision.

Advisers, as you publish your students’ work, by print, broadcast or web, consider sharing your pieces that created change, reported significant issues or fulfilled the journalistic concept of social responsibility with the JEA Scholastic Press Rights Committee’s Making a Difference project.

We want to make our posts monthly. These posts will highlight students who have made a difference through their reporting. When your students create content that has a positive impact on your school or community, and fulfills the concept of social responsibility, please fill out the submission form and we’ll tell you how to submit your content.

JEA Scholastic Press Rights Committee will post one or more packages a month on its website and promote them on social media.

We published our first copy of Making a Difference in hard copy in 1988 because of the Hazelwood malaise. In that version, now downloadable, we highlighted scholastic reporting that demonstrated  student journalism did not need the heavy hand of prior review and censorship. That tradition continues today and will continue so long as students continue to take their roles seriously and professionally.

In 2012, we committed ourselves to updating the project, hoping to show student journalism had not succumbed to Hazelwood.

We have seen some great work by student journalists across the country covering some intense topics. Let’s show the country what great work student journalists are doing that rivals work done by professional journalists.

Here are some of the stories submitted earlier:

Making a Difference articles – 2015

• McKinney students get it right
• Journalists document controversy challenging community
• Don’t drink the water
• Students report on shattered dreams
• Students support peers across the country in censorship case
• Documenting biodiversity in chicagoland
• Student promotes need for sex education

Making a Difference articles – 2014

• Students speak out about cancellation of SGA elections
• And the children shall lead them. Student journalists Make a Difference
• Student journalists make a difference
• Making a Difference: Student journalists document controversy
• Broken Hearts and Broken Minds
• Students tackle coverage of rape culture
• Freshman capstone project localizes national issue of gay rights
• Guns in America: From schools to shooting ranges
• Students speak out about cancellations of SGA election
• Freshman capstone project localizes national issues of gay rights
• Exposing the killing impact of Heroin
• Students support peers across the country in censorship case
• Make history come alive by interviewing local veterans

Past student work:
• Past stories: You can Make a Difference. Show everyone how