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Parents, teachers & librarians

Rationale for student publishing

The number of school-based publications, such as student newspapers and literary magazines, is dwindling. Meanwhile, participation in web-based, self-publishing sites and other forms of participatory media is growing steadily among teens, typically outside the confines of the school day and the school building. Read Teen Content Creators and Consumers, a report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

Young people are seeking and finding a multitude of forums for free and open expression. Publish Me! is intended to add some soft structure to this freewheeling world of push-button, self publishing.

Parents, teachers, and librarians can play a crucial role in helping young people navigate the exciting opportunities in online publishing. Most publications, traditional and electronic, will not publish anonymous submissions. To have writing considered for publication, it is essential that aspiring, young authors provide some personally identifiable information (at least a first name and some minimal contact information). Thoughtful, open-minded adults are needed to facilitate and model this process.

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