Sept. 16, 2024
Our past three editions
Sept. 9, 2024 Student disconnect • Generative AI • Summer trends
May 6, 2024 Encampments • El Niño • Phones in school
April 29, 2024 AI-generated news • Air pollution • Cicadas
THE LEAD
Vape use falls among young people
Schools are still figuring out how to deal with student vaping
Some schools are installing high-tech vape detectors in their buildings in an effort to crack down on e-cigarette use — and money from a settlement with Juul is helping some districts pay for them, NPR reported.
Vape detectors alert school officials when they detect vape smoke, loud noises that might indicate a fight and if someone tampers with them. One school district in Nebraska, the Lincoln Public School district, received about $1 million from the Juul settlement and launched a pilot vape detection program last year. NPR reported that vaping violations decreased sharply after the installation in one high school.
This enforcement mechanism comes as the 2024 Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that 500,000 less students used e-cigarettes in 2024 than in 2023. In 2024, 6% of high school and middle school students reported using vapes, compared to 7.7% in 2023.
What you can do—
Not every school received a settlement from Juul nor will every district install detectors, but many districts are figuring out what to do about vaping levels. What is your school doing? How much of a problem is it in your community?
There is also an opportunity to do some medical reporting about the effects of vaping specifically on teens. Not a lot is known about the long-term effects of vaping specifically, but nicotine may affect attention, learning and memory.
Noteworthy
Apple announces iPhone 16, AI features
New products will be in stores near you Sept. 20
Once again, Apple has announced new products and technological advances. The tech giant announced the latest versions of the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods Sept. 9 at the “It’s Glowtime” event in California.
The company also is trying its hand at generative AI with Apple Intelligence, which is designed to “help you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly,” according to the Apple website. Apple Intelligence is set to be available with iOS 18, a software update that can be expected by October.
What you can do—
On launch day, shoppers often form large lines in an effort to get their hands on new iPhones. The new products hit the shelves Friday, Sept. 20. Reporters could go to the launch and interview prospective buyers about why they are there and what excites them about the new products. Discussions about Apple Intelligence might be particularly interesting.
A similar story could be written by talking to people directly in your community about why they are (or aren’t) buying a new device right now.
What’s viral
Swift endorses Harris for president
What influence do celebrities have on politics?
Shortly following the presidential debate Sept. 10, Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the presidency. Swift pointed specifically to the candidates’ positions on key issues including LGBTQ+ rights and a woman’s right to choose.
“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice. Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make,” Swift’s post read. “I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered!”
In pointing her followers toward voting resources, Swift posted a custom URL on her Instagram story that, in the 24 hours it was posted, directed 405,999 visitors to vote.gov, USA Today reported.
Swift is not the only celebrity to throw their endorsement in the ring for the upcoming election; George Clooney, Charli XCX, Elon Musk and Hulk Hogan have also shared their opinions of the candidates, Axios reported.
What you can do—
While not every high school student can vote come November, many students are likely avid followers of at least a few celebrities. Take a moment to ask them if a celebrity endorsement could actually influence their future votes? It is an interesting intersection of pop culture and politics that experts say might actually influence elections.
The election will dominate headlines across the country for the next few months, and covering social media and celebrity endorsements can make your coverage more applicable for your audiences.
IT’S AN HONOR
Student Advisory Board applications due Sept. 20
Do you want to serve your fellow student journalists and Quill and Scroll members? Join the Student Advisory Board for 2024-25. Applications close Sept. 20.
SAB members will work on projects including establishing a regular communications channel for editors and other student journalists to discuss problems, successes, and coverage; and working on projects and activities that can aid Quill and Scroll chapters.
It’s always membership season
Don’t forget you can nominate members year round
Do you have a senior who just met the GPA requirement or a student who now wants to join Quill and Scroll? Want to avoid the spring rush? Nominate students for membership order pins, cords and other Quill and Scroll materials and memorabilia.
We haven’t changed the ordering process from last year. For those wanting to ditch the paper version, you just need to select the form based on how you would like to pay. We have one version for credit card and another version for check or purchase order. (We’ve added buttons for ease of finding these.) As usual, credit card payments are charged $4.49 per order for processing.
Suggested chapter activity
Time to plan for Constitution Day
This Constitution Day is Sept. 17. Start your planning now.
This interactive First Amendment activity reviews the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment and asks students to select their favorite First Amendment freedom. This activity can be run in just media classes or expanded out to a larger school/community project.
Submit your YEC entries today
Only three weeks until contest closes, submit today
The 2024 Yearbook Excellence Contest is open for entries. The cost for each entry in all 39 categories is $8, and schools will be divided by size — Class A for 1,000 or more students, and Class B for 999 or fewer students.
Entry deadline is Oct. 2, and here is a link to complete descriptions of those 39 categories and how to pay for the entries. Please note, we’ve added six new categories — including three for beginning students and three for middle schoolers.
Judges will award first, second and third places in each category for each class, and they’ll award honorable mentions so that between 10 and 15 percent of all entries are recognized in every category. All students named as award recipients will be eligible to apply for Quill and Scroll student scholarships in May of their senior year.
Quill and Scroll administrators will then tally points (5 for first place, 4 for second, 3 for third and 1 for HM) to determine a Blue and Gold Award winner for each class. Last year’s overall winners were Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (Class A) and Christ Presbyterian Academy of Nashville, Tennessee (Class B). Quill and Scroll hopes to announce winners by Dec. 1, 2024.
Here’s a complete list of last year’s winners.
News Media Evaluation results to be released Tuesday
The Quill and Scroll News Media Evaluation results to be announced through Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
The News Media Evaluations provides news media staffs a one-of-a-kind assessment of your publication(s) with constructive comments and suggestions for improvement from qualified evaluators. Judges will provide a thorough analysis and rating to schools, and the evaluation exercise and feedback are instructive and developmental.
We will open this service again in March.
National High School Journalism Convention travels to Philadelphia
This fall the nation’s largest gathering of high school journalists, advisers and journalism teachers will be held Nov. 7-10 at the Philadelphia Marriott.
The JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention offers hundreds of instructional sessions, keynote speakers from national newsmakers, dozens of media critiques, JEA’s popular on-site media contests and the announcement of NSPA national winners for Pacemaker Awards and Individual Awards. NSPA also offers a convention Best of Show competition that celebrates current student media work.
Registration is open now. The early bird discount ends Sept. 26 and online registration will close Oct. 17.
Just a thought
A recent Annenberg Public Policy Center survey found many Americans can’t name most of their First Amendment rights.
Tomorrow is Constitution Day. Please take time to take note of it today. You could ask students to name their First Amendment rights. Student media could conduct a poll to see if your school fares better than the U.S. adult population results in the survey highlights.
If Constitution Day is mired in the mess of the first of the year, drop by the grocery, pick up enough mini cupcakes and/or fruit (if you can), and take a little time to discuss the First Amendment and how it pertains to student media.
You could start by taking a look at SPLC’s New Voices Map. Is your state here? Not here? What does that mean for your students? You? Is there a movement in your state? If you have a law, what does it say and guarantee? Why is this important?
Don’t forget to time to highlight how the students can get help if they need. Again, SPLC is a great resource for them.
If your chapter has programming, please send me a picture or tag us on social media!
Happy Constitution Day!
— Lori Keekley
