HarlemLive is not the only organization in the city that serves as a venue for young people to express themselves. There are many other organizations all across city and among them is New Youth Connections (NYC). NYC was established about twenty years ago, and it is still thriving and helping to serving New York's youth population. Their newspaper circulates in almost all of New York's high schools and the staff consists of high school students. The staff at NYC are interns from all over the tri-state area and they get school credit for their contributions to the newspaper.

One such student is Claire Leavitt who was working away when HarlemLive visited. We asked this enterprising reporter what liked about New Youth Connections she responded; "I like the fact that we are able to write about anything we want". "If something interests you, I'll editors will say, you know what write about it and make it good". "They are pretty much willing to accept any ideas". As writer s the students are not always consulted when stories are edited and these stories sometimes make their way into the published paper with their knowing it. At HarlemLive staff members have the final say as to what goes in their stories and actually participate in the editing process. This is just a difference in the way our organizations are run an obviously they are both effective methods. NYC is a very established and has various sponsors who help to support their efforts. They also feature advertisements throughout their paper, but we were assured that ads cover almost none of the major costs. As a youth publication printing a newspaper is pretty expensive and complex. The process is quite interesting, and the current director of NYC, Nora McCarthy, explained it to me.

Ms. McCarthy told me that for the most part, staff members come up with their own ideas about new stories and they present them in staff meetings. Stories are assigned with the purpose of presenting both sides of every issue. The administrative staff tries to arrange interviews with people who can help strengthen a specific story. Most of the stories featured in NYC surround issues that are pertain to young people's issues. When HarlemLive visited the most recent issue being discussed was youth activism. In any given issue there are a number of topics addressed, and occasionally an issue will have a specific theme. Since its launch on May 12, 1980 New Youth Connections has remained the top teen newspaper written by and for the New York City youth. and is published seven times during the school year. Circulation is 65,000, and the magazine is distributed in every public high school in New York City, as well as to hundreds of, libraries and community based organizations in New York and around the country.

More information?