Feb. 9, 2026
Our past three editions
Feb. 2, 2026 Doomsday Clock • Minneapolis • Wired headphones
Jan. 26, 2026 ICE • Olympics • TikTok
Jan. 12, 2026 Vaccine schedule • Dietary guidelines • ‘Heated Rivalry’
THE LEAD
Olympics kick off in Italy with U.S. sports stars well-represented
Gather student reactions, favorite events
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are officially underway, shepherded in by a star-studded opening ceremony. Medal events officially started Feb. 7, and will continue through Feb. 22.
Team USA is made up of 232 athletes, spread across the eight sports. Medal hopes are particularly high in some events, including figure skating, cross-country skiing, hockey and alpine skiing, the New York Times reports in a list of 26 athletes to watch. Some of the biggest Olympic names are competing this year, including cross-country skier Jessie Diggins; so-called “Quad God” Ilia Malinin; the winningest alpine skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin; and the newly re-injured Lindsey Vonn.
Vonn made headlines recently as she announced she will be competing, despite completely tearing her ACL about a week before her first Olympic race.
What you can do —
Though the Olympics may feel far from local, there are storylines that fall close to home.
Talk to athletes at the top of their game locally about the experience watching the Games. See if any local athletes are competing in the Olympics, either for Team USA or another country. Talk to experts to explain the nitty-gritty of any specific Olympic sport — for example, how is it possible for the “Quad God” Ilia Malinin to be pushing the limits of the sport so quickly?
The start of the Olympics and the Super Bowl fell on the same weekend, creating plenty of television for sports fans to watch.
Noteworthy
AI is eliminating some entry-level roles, affecting teens’ job search
Talk to students about jobs they are targeting
As artificial intelligence spreads and evolves, it is impacting the availability of entry-level jobs. By one estimate, AI could wipe out as many as half of entry-level white-collar jobs, CNN reported. Some estimates lower the percentage, but regardless it is affecting the job market.
As AI trickles through classrooms and students learn how to use it, it is affecting how some students think about their futures, according to an article from CNN that features three students’ thinking on the matter.
Some companies that have replaced jobs with AI are facing the consequences a lack of human touch can have on the quality of work, Fast Company reported.
What you can do —
Touch base with students about their relationship with AI and if it is affecting how they think about their future. Are previously-software-engineering inclined students considering a double major? Are arts students worried about AI copying art?
It’s also an opportunity to interrogate how AI is being used in your school. Is it incorporated into lessons? Does anyone worry students are missing out on important skills because of it? Make sure to talk to students, parents, teachers and administrators. It would also be interesting to include information about Alpha School, an education company that eliminates teachers in favor of AI-powered apps.
What’s viral
Doritos, Cheetos, Lay’s prices to drop by ‘up to nearly 15%’
Cover implications of cheaper processed foods
PepsiCo, the food giant that owns, among other brands, Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos and Tostitos, announced last week that chip costs will be falling. The changes are set to roll out soon, NPR reported.
The goal of the change is to boost sales and comes as part of an agreement struck with investor Elliott Investment Management.
What you can do —
Though PepsiCo may not be a local company, its products almost certainly are. Talk to students about what chips they find themselves reaching for. Is price a big consideration? Are students looking for traditional chip alternatives, like protein chips or chips made with avocado or olive oil?
If your school sells snacks, take a look at the type of products available. Also, your state may regulate what schools can sell — look into those rules.
100 years of Quill & Scroll
A look back on changing technology
In Quill and Scroll’s 100-year history, the technology involved in producing student media — and even the media forms available — has changed remarkably. Gone are the days of typewriters and rule line tape. Instead, newsrooms across the country turn to digital design tools like InDesign and Canva. Artificial intelligence has entered the scene in education, prompting important discussions in student journalism.
Changing technologies have been covered several times in the Quill and Scroll magazine. This week we are highlighting an article from the spring of 1985. It prompts student journalists to consider “the advantages of computerization.” Specifically it points to using a word-processing program as a step up from a typewriter — touting the ability to reorganize stories with a single click, as opposed to the work-intensive physical patch job required before computers were commonplace.
It also espouses the virtues of spellcheck, a feature today’s student journalists are rarely without.
Though reverting to old technology is probably not a beneficial move, it would be interesting to dig into your publication’s history to see how technology has shaped it.
Share your Quill & Scroll story
In honor of the centennial, Quill and Scroll is collecting testimonials, memories and stories from Quill and Scroll from student members, advisers, former staff and friends.Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your experiences on this form! Your answers may be used in marketing and communications materials.
Please share with others in your network — we want to hear from everyone.
IT’S AN HONOR
It’s always membership season
Don’t forget you can nominate members year round
Now is the best time to order for your induction! Not only will you beat the ordering rush, you could also have Quill and Scroll function as a journalism club or volunteer organization. (And don’t worry, if you’re worried that having chapter activities will just add another to do time to the list, we have several suggested chapter activities in “lesson plan” format so students can lead these!) While you’re ordering, don’t forget to include any 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.
If your initiation is the week of Feb. 23 or before, now is the time to order!
Take advantage of our advisers-only resource area
Quill and Scroll has expanded its advisers-only area, which includes bellringers and lesson plans for advisers who have initiated members within the past school year.
Advisers, if you inducted members in the 2024-25 or the 2025-26 school year, check your email (and your spam!) for a message from [email protected]. That email should contain your login information. Please be sure to accept cookies when you log in! If you have trouble, you can contact us at [email protected]. If you have inducted members this school year, we update access every few weeks, so keep an eye on your email.
Members-only area highlight
How the Eight Guiding Principles are still in today’s student media
This lesson serves as a reminder of the impact to the self and community of Quill and Scroll’s Eight Guiding Principles. Students will isolate and study one of these in small groups, and find examples of how they appear on staff. They will then explore what the other groups have included and add their ideas for other principles through a gallery walk.
School of the New York Times Summer Academy opportunity
We know it’s early, but for those looking for a 2026 journalism learning opportunity, it’s not too early to begin planning. The School of the New York Times Summer Academy is one of the nation’s most competitive journalism programs — and Quill and Scroll members get an exclusive discount.
Summer Academy is open to high school students (grades 10-12 and Graduating Seniors based on the grade the student is entering in the Fall 2026 school year). Students must be 15-years old by the first day of their session. Program graduates have been recruited from some of the top journalism schools in the nation. Please see this link for the course catalogue.
All students applying to Summer Academy for the first time are required to complete an online application. Returning students do not need to reapply. As a member school, Quill and Scroll chapter members will have access to pre-registration, which is now open. Last year this program received more than 14,000 applications for 1,700 seats. By going through pre-registration, your chance of being an attendee increases.
Students from schools with a Quill and Scroll Charter can receive $500 off enrollment in the Summer Academy.
More information can be found on the admission information and application portal are posted.
Opportunity for those interested in climate reporting
Now in its fifth year, Youth Environmental Press Team’s (YEPT) mission is to amplify youth urgency on the climate crisis by supporting young people in producing journalistic content on climate and the environment and sharing it with their peers as well as the general public.
YEPT republishes climate- and environmental-related content produced by high school journalists in their school newspapers on our yept.org website, along with publishing original content. Stories include a wide spectrum of student-selected subject matter related to climate impacts: invasive species, data centers, animal agriculture, renewable energy, global climate politics, and much more. Republication requires permission of writer and faculty advisor/teacher and nets the student $30. We also assign fresh content for our site: $100 or more for a new assignment, depending on complexity.
As of November, 2025, over a dozen high school Directors representing 10 states contribute to YEPT: Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, and Ohio, with other states in the process of joining (pending additional funding). For example, we regularly publish writers from Iowa and California as well as the United Kingdom. Directors help run YEPT, produce stories, and promote YEPT content and the program itself on social media, LinkedIn, and other platforms; each state Director is paid $1,000 per semester for this work.
For more information, contact adult adviser Jim Poyser at [email protected]
Spring convention registration open
Join us in Minneapolis for the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. Registration opened Jan. 8 and the hotel link was sent to all registrants Feb. 3.
Attendees can look forward to preconvention workshops, media tours, critique and contest opportunities, a publication exchange and hundreds of informational sessions. Come “Find your North Star” at the JEA/NSPA spring convention April 16-18.
Opportunity from the Freedom Forum
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference June 21-26, 2026, provides 51 students (one high school junior from each state plus the District of Columbia) with an all-expenses-paid program that includes panel conversations with journalists and multimedia storytellers, newsroom visits, networking events, a chance to meet students and industry leaders who share a passion for news, and a unique Washington, D.C., experience.
Participants receive a $1,000 college scholarship and ongoing support from a community of more than 1,700 alumni. Students build their skills, grow their network and get a head start on their future.
The due date is March 15.
Upcoming Weekly Scroll pause dates
We will pause the Weekly Scroll during the weeks of Feb. 16, March 9, March 23, April 13 and April 20 since we will be at conventions when we normally would amass the Scroll.
Some advisers and students have found linking to our Weekly Scroll page beneficial.
Thank you for understanding.
Just a thought
Many of you have requested items to help you with your ordering process. We have amassed all of them on our membership ordering guide.
The guide is separated into three “how to” sections: identifying members, placing orders and running a chapter.
Some of the new features requested include our membership qualifications chart, membership presentation, membership invitation and a spreadsheet to help prior to placing an order.
A few reminders as we start the busiest time of the year for us:
- Order early. We need at least three weeks from the time you make payment or submit your purchase order to the time of your induction. Yes, we try to ship out as soon as possible, but during the height of the order season it’s impossible to keep up.
- Online forms are processed quicker, which results in the order being sent earlier. And yes, there’s a separate credit card form and check form. (Combining these into one form is clunky.)
- While most orders are sent via UPS, we often mail single orders or small cord orders.
- We’re happy to send as many orders as you would like. However, to save on shipping costs, order everything all at once.
- If you need the order rushed, we have an overnight shipping service available for domestic orders at an additional charge. We do not offer this during the weeks we travel, so please see our online order forms for these dates. We only ship to the school. If we ship to a residence or overseas, it is an additional charge. Contact our office for pricing.
- Remember to send the membership spreadsheet to [email protected]. We do contact advisers who don’t submit names, but we know it’s tough to remember. Make sure to have the “notify sender” button checked.
- If you make an error in online order submission, just let me know — especially on a credit card transaction. It’s easier (and more cost effective for us to amend a current order than void and then process another transaction since each transaction charges a fee.) We work hard to maintain our current membership fee and we are charged per transaction.
- Take time during the induction to celebrate your students and what they have accomplished. When I taught, I inducted my oldest son into Quill and Scroll, which made me a proud parent and adviser.
- If you have questions, please let me know. I’m happy to help. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response from February through the end of May since these are the busiest months of the year.
— Lori Keekley
