Finding My Roots at J-Night
A Personal Journey Toward a Journalism-Powered Future for Schools
My dad recently shared something I'd never heard him say before: his parents, Holocaust survivors who built a new life in Israel, turned to science as their religion. It clicked instantly. While we were proud Jews, we were not practicing Jews. The first thing my grandfather did after surviving an unlikely escape from Poland through Nazi-controlled Europe, even before the war had ended, was to get a double degree in mathematics and physics while in a refugee camp in Switzerland. Our family has always had science-pride, a deep-rooted belief in the power of facts and discovery. My grandfather was certainly a dedicated scientist for the rest of his life.
Then, at J-Night last week, NYC Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers said something that connected the dots for me. Journalism, like science, is about revealing truth – science digs into the inner workings, while journalism focuses on the outcomes. And here I am, my entire career dedicated to journalism in schools, never realizing the parallel to my family's scientific devotion.
It started in 2003, before "podcasting" was even a word. I was a physics and robotics teacher, and my students were interviewing each other about physics concepts. We edited the recordings to reinforce what they learned. They were asking questions, finding answers, working together – it was powerful.
J-Night was an electric follow-up to J-Day, 2024, an initiative to bring youth journalism into every NYC school. After the inspiring speeches by thought leaders like Nikole Hannah-Jones, politicians, and (most importantly) high school journalists, a panel envisioned the future of youth media. Internships, student newspapers in every school – I was practically jumping out of my seat. When students took the stage to share how journalism changed their lives, I was in tears.
Erickson S. Blakney from The Pinkerton Foundation recommended that no principal get tenure without a student paper in the school building. As ambitious as that goal may seem at this moment, school newspapers are just the tip of the iceberg.
Imagine:
Independently validated student-produced media used alongside or even instead of AP exams for college admissions.
Portfolios of youth media projects as alternatives to standardized tests, not just in elite private schools, but for any student at any school.
Teachers shifting from "teaching to the test" to fostering critical thinking and creativity through high-quality youth media projects.
With the upcoming launch of the hs.credit app, the school system is poised for change. I believe student-produced journalism has the potential to play a central role in this transformation.
This is a story that's just beginning to unfold.
I invite you to follow our product team page hs.credit for regular updates toward this future.
