THE NEXT LEVEL1

This is a list of some sources of information and tip sheets that can help teen journalists provide depth and context to their articles.

If you have additional ideas please e-mail them to columbialinks@colum.edu

Chicago Public Schools Research and Accountability
The Research and Accountability website has a wealth of information about Chicago schools, including school profiles and databases with school-by-school information on test scores and dropout rates.

Voices for Illinois Children—Kids Count
Voices for Illinois Children is an advocacy organization that is part of a nationwide network which publishes a yearly data book called Kids Count. In this data book, reporters can find community level information on all sorts of relevant topics from the number of dropouts to violent crime per square area.

Illinois Department of Public Health
Teen reporters can find information on a variety of subjects from the number of live teen births to the demographics of new AIDS cases.

U.S. Census
Reporters can find statistics on a variety of subjects. One quick way to find information about communities is by going to American Factfinder.

Journalism Center on Children and Families
CJC inspires and recognizes exemplary reporting on children and families. CJC is a nonprofit program of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Education Writers Association
The Education Writers Association (EWA) is the national professional organization of education reporters. It features a resource center on education issues that can help add depth to articles on education issues, including those on improving high schools.

IRE: Investigative Reporters and Editors
Grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting. Provides tip sheets on a variety of subjects.