Young D.C., started in 1991, is an independent newspaper by and for teenagers throughout Metropolitan D.C.  In its newsroom and in their community, young people practice journalism with the freedom and account-ability that flow from the First Amendment. 

In the process, its editors, reporters, photographers, cartoonists, illustrators and interns develop skills for college and career. Equally important, Young D.C. readers gain a new perspective on the community.

They also develop critical skills.  The top three challenges for teens remain organization, time management and peer pressure. As Young D.C. staffers, dozens of teens learn to deal with these while they’re gaining confidence in reporting, writing and illustrating stories.

Journalism professionals coach them as their skills develop. Hands-on experience and year-round workshops have been key features of this newspaper since 1991: teens do the jobs that must be done to get their newspaper into the hands of their readers. They add distribution sites, bring in advertising, and recruit their own successors.

With Young DC, students learn a host of useful skills -- writing, but also leadership. They are also learning about their community; reading and contributing to a newspaper is one of the best ways to stay civically engaged. The students who participate in the writing of the paper will gain extra benefit, but those who are reading it will also benefit.