The New York Times used the slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print."
Event Description
In 1897, Adolph S. Ochs, the owner of The New York Times, created the famous slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print," which still appears on the masthead of the newspaper today. He wrote the slogan as a declaration of the newspaper's intention to report the news impartially.
Classroom Activity
Make a list of the newspapers your students see their parents read. Discuss how different newspapers offer different points of view that appeal to different audiences.
Choose a current event, and have each student read a different editorial on the topic. The Internet Public Library has online newspapers from around the world and throughout the United States. After everybody has had a chance to read their editorials, have students share them with the class. Students should be able to identify the editor's point of view in each one.
Ask students whether they think the newspapers they examined were impartial, and what, if any challenges exist in reporting the news impartially.
Websites
Students can use this interactive tool to create original newspapers. Students select from different layouts, add text and headlines, and then print to add their own images.
This resource provides kid-friendly news articles and other resources that can be used with or without the printed magazine.
The New York Times website offers access to current news and other newspaper features. The Learning Network offers lesson plans and other teaching resources. For full access to the site, free registration is required.
The American Society of Newspaper Editors offers journalism tips for students, teachers, and editors at this site. Included are lesson plans, links to student resources, and interviews with professional writers.