Recapping our biggest Youth in Journalism Workshop yet

More participants than ever came through The Record North Shore’s newsroom this summer for its fourth Youth in Journalism Workshop.

Journalism-curious teens and young adults from northern suburbs joined one of two sessions — July 20-24 and Aug. 3-7 — this summer to learn more about newsrooms and the reporting process.

Kiswa Karim, a Skokie resident and senior at Niles North High School, was one of 23 who applied for the program — the highest total yet for the workshop. She said her experience was especially valuable as she prepares to lead the newsroom of her school’s paper, the North Star News.

“As editor in chief of my school newspaper, I know I’ll be able to use the advice and skills I learned from the workshop to better lead my newsroom, support younger writers, and continue improving my own journalism,” Karim wrote. “I left the experience feeling even more motivated and excited to continue growing as a journalist.”

The Record’s Editor in Chief Joe Coughlin and special guests led the free program, which was open to ages 16-22. All accepted participants also received a $200 stipend to support their time, travel and participation in the workshop.

The program aims to inform and enrich students’ understanding of the news industry. Each day, Coughlin reviewed different journalism concepts, such as ethics, media law, interviewing, AI, and misinformation and how to identify it.

“This workshop is special, and we are honored and grateful to host these young people,” Coughlin said. “It is more difficult than ever to find and consume information. We, as an information provider, are in a position to help people through that challenge, while also providing insight on what a career in journalism looks like.”

Visiting industry professionals provided depth and real-world perspective to the workshop. NBC Chicago anchor and reporter Patrick Fazio, food writer and TV personality Kevin Pang, Better Government Association investigative reporter Peter Nickeas, and The Record reporters Samuel Lisec and Alessia Girardin all offered unique stories from the field and about their journeys in and out of newsrooms.

Participant Lulu Tamayo, a junior at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, said the workshop shared important insight.

“This workshop taught me essential skills to become a successful journalist, and showed the group that there is so much more to the practice than just being a ‘good writer,'” she said.

This year’s workshop was supported by the Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants Program, which promotes digital inclusion through storytelling and community engagement. The Record’s youth workshop aligns with the program’s goal of “amplify(ing) community voices, address(ing) digital divides and creat(ing) impactful narratives that advocate for equitable digital access.”

The workshop also aligns with the mission of The Record, which is a nonprofit, independent community newsroom that also aims to enable a more understanding future of news consumer. The workshop accomplishes that, Coughlin said, by providing an inside look at news development and tips on how to thoughtfully absorb news and content online.

Margaret Dillingham is a senior at Evanston Township High School and works at the school’s paper, The Evanstonian. Of the workshop, she said, “This opportunity is really a hidden gem for teens who think they might have an interest in any kind journalism. It was genuinely fun and engaging, and you learn a lot.”

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