Rock Creek High School is celebrating Scholastic Journalism Week, with the theme of “Power of the Press,” on the week of February 24 – 28, 2025. Journalism students will begin each morning by making an announcements each day that go with each daily theme.
The week begins on Monday, February 24, with sharing the First Amendment, as all journalism students revisit their first Intro to Journalism class when they first learned about the First Amendment and the importance of those 45 words. Mrs. Schmidt has created a right of passage for all journalism students at the beginning of the year for to be able to recite the First Amendment from memory in order to receive a grade.
Tuesday, February 25, focuses on leaders in journalism. At the beginning of the school year, the Intro to Journalism class had to do Google slide presentations about past leaders in journalism. So this week students will acknowledge the younger generations of journalist that are redefining the landscape of journalism today. Remembering the past while embracing the future of journalism.
Wednesday, February 26, dives into press rights, with the role of investigative journalism, and the importance of journalistic integrity. The classes will be watching the 1976 movie “All the Presidents Men” which tells the story of how investigative journalism exposed the Watergate scandal.
Thursday, February 27, emphasizes the protection of young journalists’ rights, and how they can prepare to defend their rights. Celebrating Student Press Freedom Day! Learning the importance of protecting the rights to report freely and without censorship all while fostering a culture of transparency and accountability within educational institutions. Students will then understand the broader implications of press freedom in society and the role of journalism in promoting democratic values. All while preparing our future journalists to navigate and advocate for their rights in professional settings, ensuring that they can contribute effectively to an informed and engaged public.
Finally, Friday, February 28, highlights the impact of growing technology, such as AI, and the challenges that accompany the growth. Students will work to understand AI’s impacts on journalism while also addressing ethical considerations, such as ensuring transparency and mitigating biases in AI-generated content. Exploring how AI can enhance efficiency by handling repetitive tasks, allowing journalists to focus on more complex and investigative reporting. Working to ensure that they are able to leverage AI’s benefits while upholding journalistic standards and integrity.
For more information, you can visit JEA.org.
