A NewsHound's Guide to Student Journalism

by Katina Paron, Javier Guelfi

Covering the basics of media arts values and practice, this graphic textbook offers cub reporters a primer on the drama, adventure and ethical conundrums that make journalism rewarding and fun. Using ripped-from-the-headlines examples, the authors challenge students to engage with the big issues. The stories revolve around a diverse newspaper staff at an urban high school who find themselves in a series of teachable moments. Packed with reporting exercises and fundamentals of the craft, woven into engaging narratives, each comic also gives readers a look at the real-life event that inspired the tale.

Genres: Nonfiction

206 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2018

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good; I read this as an adult, but I can see why it would also be good for the high school crowd.

I was recommended this book by a friend who trains reporters professionally. She suggested it when I asked for a "how-to" or introduction to journalism (along with Strunk & White, The Elements of Journalism, and some online resources).

It was a good recommendation. The book contains many good ideas on lots of different subjects: it covers writing ledes, writing headlines, interviewing, writing reviews, etc. All of these subjects get a page or two of suggestions before moving on to the next topic.

Some books are just a single idea that should just be a magazine article. This book has lots of ideas, each which could support an article of their own. It's a great place to start.

[Celina De León · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book when I was a kid! Top-notch from running comic story line to lessons in practicing quality journalism.

[Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my Bible this year. I am reading and reading reading it constantly and using so many of the activities with my class. Brilliant

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for newbies, seasoned journalists

If I only had this in high school... what a fantastic resource for not only student journalists, but journalists at any age. You are never too old to brush up on skills or learn something new! I highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in journalism, and even college journalists who need a quick refresh and a reminder of why we write in the first place.

[Dane Erbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book in an Introduction to Journalism class for middle schoolers, and I could not have asked for a better text book.

Most journalism text books are either too stuffy for college students, let alone high schoolers, but this one covered the basics in an effective, accessible way. My students ranged from some journalism experience to total noob, but I felt like the book met each student where they were.

I also felt like the narrative aspects of the book—the graphic novel—illustrated the big ideas and issues in each chapter. The authors obviously had experience with student journalism because the case studies were more nuanced than I expected. They prompted great discussion.

I wish some of the topics were a bit more organized—it covers so much ground that this is probably as organized as it can get—it I recommend this for a middle or high school class. I also recommend it for that overwhelmed advisor who was just assigned to teach newspaper and needs an accessible starting point.

[R Zavala · Rating 5 out of 5]

For teaching an introduction to journalism, this is a fabulous tool. I only found this AFTER I taught the intro J1 class, so I've tried to incorporate it into my journalism/newspaper classes, and so far, so good.

The use of graphics is great for drawing attention. Even if the seniors gave me a solid eye roll, they read what the comics said and have internalized the material more quickly than in semesters past. This accessibility makes the text more practical and applicable as well. I was so happy with what I read that I pushed the purchase of a dozen books for my class to use each time we train the new journalists on our staff each fall.

[Amy Willoughby-Burle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for student papers. I like the classroom activities and homework about journalism itself. I'm excited to use this in my classroom. Some mature content if you're using with middle school, but not much.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, A NewsHound's Guide to Student Journalism is a pretty solid presentation of information in a text/graphic format that is relevant to today's learners. Engaging.

There are a few typos, and now that AI is a thing, the ethics section will need to be updated in the next edition.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and am going to assign it to my Journalism class next year.

[Hannah Kaufmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

So helpful!!! I absolutely recommend this to any student interested in journalism. Def own a copy, taking notes inside mine helped me sm

[k8 conroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of useful stuff in this book, and the unique comic story/textbook format is amazing. But I need to speak to everyone involved about why you would take a book made for teaching high schoolers and name the first chapter "DEEP THROAT" in nice giant letters. I understand the connection to journalism, now that I have researched it. But holy moly, you could have chosen so many other chapter titles. And now I have to stand in front of teenagers and open this book with them, and we all have to read that together. And I am dreading it. Why would you do this to us??? Also someone needs to copyedit fr fr. Feel free to contact me, I'll do it for cheap.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an informative and entertaining text for student journalism. I like it a lot better than High School Journalism: A Practical Guide, by Streisel. Newshound’s Guide is more thorough, has more concrete ideas for classroom/homework exercises, is written better, and is just more enjoyable to read.