Student newspapers hitting the web -- and raising concerns
BY JORGE BARRIENTOS Californian staff writer
Local high school newspapers, in an effort to stay alive and relevant, are going digital.
And while educators and student newspaper advocates say that's a good thing, district administrators are concerned about showcasing student work to the world.
"The Internet is still a brave, new world for many including the Kern High School District," KHSD spokesman John Teves said in an email. "We have some concerns about what might be the consequences of publishing, online, information that includes student photos and names."
At least three local high school papers have hit the web in recent months, featuring articles and photos on anti-bullying efforts, campus food drives and human-interest stories on teachers staying late to grade papers.
The student newspapers online allow students to reach an audience that gets its news strictly on a screen, and get trained in an ever-evolving form of journalism, student newspaper advisers and advocates argue. There shouldn't be any concerns, said Randy Hamm adviser
