Urgent Fall Appeal - The Future of Journalism Depends on You

Dear Friends and Fellow Advocates of Student Journalism,

With misinformation surging and 2-3 local newspapers closing each week, people are more vulnerable than ever to half-truths and rumors online. Journalism needs rebuilding and that has to start with young people.

Press Pass NYC is dedicated to equipping students with the tools to produce ethical journalism, to think critically, and to value truth. By rebuilding an appreciation of journalism through hands-on learning, we can nurture a demand.

That’s our mission at Press Pass NYC and why we’re asking for your support to GROW.

Since 2021, we’ve launched student news publications in 22 NYC public high schools and middle schools, reaching over 8,000 students. This year, we’re set to expand to 10 more. These aren’t just student newspapers and news sites; they’re platforms where students learn to report with mission and integrity and demand accountability. Our partner schools include:

• The Bronx River News, which recently published this important story on bullying with data and perspectives of teens. The student newspaper was featured in this News 12 report.

• The QS Inquirer, at the Queens School of Inquiry, where students recently investigated problems with the school’s new ID card policy.

Today, we need your help more than ever because of an exciting development. PPNYC is part of the Youth Journalism Coalition, which is recruiting 30 more schools that need student press. We are the coalition member that would provide those schools with publication start-up and stay-up services in partnership with CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism which has developed a new curriculum. All this work is in response to a survey finding only 27 percent of the city’s public high schools have student newspapers.

To that end, we proudly welcome award-winning New York City journalist Beth Fertig to our staff as Deputy Director to assist founder Lara Bergen in strategic growth. Beth’s reporting was heard by millions on NPR and WNYC, where she covered the NYC public schools during her long tenure. Most recently, Beth was Senior Editor at the nonprofit XQ Institute, which is dedicated to rethinking the American high school experience so it's more relevant and engaging.

In addition to bringing Beth on board, we are looking to grow our team of advisors, particularly those with experience in fundraising and financial management, as well as public high school parents, especially those from schools without press. Please reach out to Lara Bergen (lara@presspassnyc.org) by Dec. 1.

This is a powerful opportunity to keep up with the growing demand from schools throughout the five boroughs to help shape the next generation of journalists and informed citizens—and we can’t do it without you. Your support will directly fund mentorship, training, and critical resources to empower students and aspiring journalism advisers..

To succeed in serving more students and schools, we must increase our fundraising. With your help, we believe we can raise $50,000 by December 31st.

Join us in building a future where students learn to understand and demand truthful, responsible journalism. Democracy depends on it.

With gratitude,

The Press Pass NYC Board

Tom Allon, Publisher, City & State; Non-profit Leader, 5-Boroughs

Rose Arce, Executive Producer, Soledad O’Brien Productions

Carol Cooper, Journalist, Author, Professor NYU

James Rosenfeld, Media Law Partner, Davis, Wright, & Tremaine LLP

Jessica Siegel, former Associate Professor of Journalism, English, and Education, Brooklyn College

Peg Tyre, Vice President of Strategy, Communications and Network Engagement, EGF Accelerator

Catherine Woodard, Writer, News Literacy Project Board Member

Press Pass NYC is a fiscally sponsored partner project of the Fund for the City of New York, a registered 501(c)(3) organization. As such, all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you are part of a matching program, our Federal Tax ID# is: 13-2612524.
To make a donation by check, please list “Fund for the City of New York” as the payee and write "Press Pass NYC” on the memo line. Mail to: Fund for the City of New York, 121 6th Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10013