Libraries and news organizations are increasingly having to adapt to an information landscape that is in constant flux. As a result, innovative approaches to reinforcing their civic value must reassert the value of public information as cornerstone of society. Simultaneously, Dallas schools have seen a sharp reduction in resources to support journalism curriculum for teens, creating an opportunity for supplemental educators like public libraries to fill the gap for this critical user population.

This Innovation reinforces the youth community’s stake in the strength of vital information resources through intensive journalism courses that develop their information literacy skills while enhancing public discourse. Under the guidance of DPL librarians, as well as reporters, editors and photographers from The Dallas Morning News, students are taught journalism best practices, with branch locations in diverse neighborhoods operating as research centers, technology hubs and venues for interviews with community members.

SWB underscores and strengthens DPL’s versatility as a civic hub in the 21st century through its eight-week curriculum, by giving student participants knowledge and practical experience with library research and journalism among city leaders and award-winning writers. Program highlights in the spring semester included a press conference with Mayor Mike Rawlings and photography workshops with Pulitzer Prize winning journalists. Students finish the program having written a news article which is then published online.