ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Children’s PressLine gives kids a voice and the power to use it!

SINCE 2001 CPL HAS

• Trained 1142 NYC youth in journalism and community workshops
• Interviewed 1,665 kids in need on issues that affect their lives
• Conducted 350 interviews with policymakers, from the White House to New York City’s council chambers
• Published 700 articles in mainstream media

OUR MEDIA PARTNERS INCLUDE

• New York Daily News
• Metro New York
• New York Amsterdam News
• Scripps Howard News Service (syndicated to 400 newspapers)
• Teens & Tweens News
• IndyKids
• PBS’ The Online NewsHour
• Alternet’s WireTapMag.org
• NYC Student Life
• Ted (Holland)

In addition, our work has been heard on BBC World Service and CBS Radio, read in/on NY Newsday, espn.com, Boston Globe, Weekly Reader, Gotham Gazette, The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, Virginia), Red Bluff Daily News (Calif.), The (Miss.) Sun Herald, Times Record News (Lehighton, Penn.) and seen on Teen Kids News.

Our youth journalists have received press coverage from CNN’s “Diplomatic License,” XM Radio, Time Out New York, 1010WINS, WLIB, Teens and Tweens News, Connect for Kids, Voice of America, Metro New York, CBS’ Early Show and City Limits.

RECENT AWARDS

2007 World Association of Newspapers' Young Reader Award for Editorial Strategy
“BackTalk: Kids speak, officials respond”

“The judges were particularly impressed with the empowerment the activity provided children in teaching them how to have a constructive voice and role in making positive changes in their community,” – Aralynn McMane, Director, Young Readership Development, World Association of Newspapers.

National Newspapers Publishers Association
“Great variety of news stories...” – Ofield Dukes, chairman of the 2005 NNPA Merit Awards.

Partnership for After School Education
Co-Founder, Editorial/Program Director Katina Paron received 2003 Pasesetter Certificate for contributions to the after-school field

Scholastic Art and Writing Award
for reporter Natasha Kirtchuk’s Op/Ed piece, “Dear Mister FCC.”

PRAISE FOR CHILDREN'S PRESSLINE

"Thank you for getting my voice out."  – Shane, 18

“I am impressed to learn about your program that gives children a voice in the media while effectively integrating journalism training into the standard middle and high school curriculum.” –-U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu

“I consider your articles a great way to incorporate the voices and opinions of today's kids in the magazine.”–Jenna Greditor, Editor, Parent Guide Magazine, Teens and Tweens News

"You are the most important method to share our voices - you are a microphone. You can make our voices sound louder.” -Paulina, 17

“I read your reporting in the paper and I’m very impressed with all that you’re doing.” C. Virginia Fields, Former Manhattan Borough President

“CPL…has a great way of getting youth to tell their stories.”– Naomi Thiers, Associate Editor, Educational Leadership, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

 “Thank you for developing and promoting much needed voices." –Kristina Rizga, Editor, WireTapMag.org

"Children's PressLine reporters do their research, ask the right questions, and compel politicians to break out of their adult-world rhetoric." – Adnaan Wasey, Associate Editor, The Online NewsHour

“CPL has been a real inspiration for Natasha, and helped her in so many ways, I can't even count them. I think you all are the best, and your organization and efforts for youth are just invaluable and very precious.” - Nancie Katz, parent

“I congratulate the Children’s PressLine for creating a unique journalism program that empowers and challenges New York City’s youth. CPL’s years of involving children and young adults in local, state and national politics, via journalism, has helped our City’s young people become informed and active citizens. The members of CPL asked tough, serious and provocative questions. Congratulations on running such a fantastic program.”
–Thomas K. Duane, NY State Senator

“CPL is fun, but you have to use your brain a lot.” –Olaine, 12, Reporter

EVENTS COVERED (partial list)

• United Nations’ Special Session on Children
• 2004 Democratic and Republican Conventions
• Juvenile Offenders on Death Row
• Democratic Candidates’ Debates at Pace University
• FCC Media Deregulation Hearings
• United Nations’ Global Youth Leadership Summit
• “In Search of Faith,” CPL-initiated cross-country road trip made up of 4 youth journalists who in 1 month traveled to 14 cities in the U.S. and Canada and interviewed more than 150 young people about how events in their lives have shaped their identities.
• NYC Dept. of Education’s Young Parent’s Conference
• Russell Simmons’ Art for Life gala
• “Dialogue with American Families Forum” in South Carolina
• Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at Pace University
• Develop Don’t Destroy Rally in Brooklyn
• Election Voters Guide for The New York Amsterdam News: Four times since 2001, CPL has been part of the Amsterdam News' editorial board interviews of political candidates. In 2005, CPL interviewed 54 candidates for public office, including Mayor Bloomberg and his Democratic challengers. Candidates are interviewed and graded by the journalists.
• Drop the Rock, Rockefeller Drug Law Rally
• MTV Music Video Awards
• United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development

In addition to the more than 1,500 young people CPL journalists have interviewed, they also have interviewed Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama andJohn Kerry; Vermont Governor Howard Dean; Rev. Al Sharpton; Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Nancy Pelosi; Speaker Dennis Hastert; NYC Mayors Michael Bloomberg, Rudolph Guiliani and David Dinkins; NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.