This commentary is by Katerine Lacourciere, a rising senior at Essex High School, where she is a staff writer for the Hive.
Journalism is essential to inform communities, hold those in power accountable and give voice to perspectives that might otherwise go unheard. So why isn’t there more of a push to train the next generation of journalists?
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to work in a newsroom alongside 13 other dedicated high school journalists through the New England High School Journalism Collaborative. Throughout the week, I watched my peers conduct interviews, dig deeper into research and stay late to finish stories because they cared about getting them right.
And for almost half of them, it was their first time writing an article.
The passion that radiated throughout the weeklong program indicated that student journalists weren’t rushing through assignments. They were producing factual and thoughtful stories. And what they need now is an opportunity to learn.
At Essex High School, our online publication, the Hive, has allowed me to develop these skills over the past two years. With the guidance of my journalism advisers, I have learned how to properly interview sources, format and report. Through the Hive’s partnership with the Essex Reporter, several of my articles have been published in print, allowing me to begin building a portfolio before I even graduate high school.
Unfortunately, Essex is one of only a few high schools in Vermont that offer journalistic programs for students. After seeing how quickly passionate students could pick up the basics of journalism in just one week, I have realized there is a tremendous amount of talent in classrooms across New England.
Educating aspiring students is more important than ever, because journalism is evolving. Online publications are thriving more than ever, especially among young adults. In a 2025 study by the Pew Research Center, 76% of young adults said they often or sometimes get their news from social media, and 60% of young adults said they often or sometimes get their news from news websites or apps.
By establishing online publications at schools, aspiring journalists have hands-on opportunities to produce multimedia content that is the developing future of journalism. Whether that looks like designing the online layout, compiling photos into a collage or posting promotional material on social media, it all ties into the growing evolution of reporting.
But the value of journalism extends far beyond career preparation. Through reporting, journalists become active participants in local civic life. They can attend school board meetings, interview elected local and state officials and help to inform readers about influential decisions that can shape communities.
I have had the chance to interview state legislators along with my local school board regarding issues reflected in my student body. These conversations have shown me journalism is much more than writing a story. It’s about bridging the gap across communities by asking thoughtful questions that carry real impact.
Supporting programs that encourage youth political engagement is more important than ever in an age when youth involvement in politics is declining. According to a 2025 poll by AP-NORC, 44% of teenagers aged 13 to 17 said they follow U.S. politics “not very closely” or “not closely at all.”
Learning about local politics isn’t limited to textbooks. It’s something that students can experience through journalism before they are even eligible to vote.
Whether students decide to pursue journalism as a career or not, they will gain invaluable skills for their futures. It pushes them to engage with their communities, think critically and work to deadlines, all skills useful in a variety of careers.
Educators and administrators alike must make it a priority to invest in student journalism. Now more than ever, it is important to train reliable reporters who can accurately and unbiasedly report news within communities.
Tomorrow’s journalists are already sitting in classrooms. And they deserve a chance.
