PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Natalie Vitterman, Junior at Hunter College High School, on Student Journalism
2:32:28
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104 sec
Natalie Vitterman, a junior at Hunter College High School, testifies about the importance of student journalism programs and supports Introduction 1057. She shares her positive experiences with her school's extensive journalism opportunities and contrasts them with the lack of such programs in her middle school.
- Emphasizes the critical role of student journalism in engaging with media and current events
- Highlights the disparity in access to journalism programs across schools
- Argues for the importance of providing information about journalism programs to 8th graders choosing high schools
Kid 5 in Shown Video
2:32:28
Hi, good afternoon.
2:32:29
My name is Natalie Vitterman, and I'm a junior at Hunter College High School in Manhattan, represented by council member Julie Menon.
2:32:35
Thank you for being here today.
2:32:37
For me, being a part of student journalism hasn't been much of a struggle, given that my school newspaper has a century old program.
2:32:45
Every day, I feel blessed to have such an amazing program with a dedicated advisor and a passionate group of students.
2:32:53
However, when I was in middle school, the word newspaper was never even mentioned.
2:32:58
When I got to my current school though, I could feel the beating heart of student journalism all around me.
2:33:03
From over a dozen publications to a biannual journalism conference, reporting is everywhere.
2:33:09
Now I'm a features editor at my school newspaper, where I've guided students through writing articles showcasing various people in the school community.
2:33:18
But it isn't just the newspaper.
2:33:20
My school's journalism elective gave me a space to share my thoughts and stay involved with stories about the world around me, together with motivated students.
2:33:28
The media is taking a central role in everyone's lives, and school journalism programs allow students to take a central role in the media.
2:33:36
This introduction is not just another bureaucratic exercise.
2:33:40
For students like my middle school peers, it's personal.
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We didn't know we could end up at a high school without a publication, without a place for our voices.
2:33:49
This year, countless students interested in journalism won't have the information they need to find the right school.
2:33:55
The DOE reports basketball teams but not publications.
2:33:59
Introduction 1057 will change that by giving 8th graders the data on which high schools currently offer these critical outlets for student voice.
2:34:07
Access to journalism education should not be a privilege.
2:34:10
It should be a right.
2:34:10
Thank you.
