Join the Journalistic Learning Community

A network of educators committed to connecting classrooms with communities by leading their students through a Journalistic Learning project.

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Grow with a community of passionate peers while equipping your students with the skills of a journalist. Members gain access to a supportive educator cohort, vetted professional development materials, a comprehensive Journalistic Learning instructional plan (“The Effective Communicators course”), and more. Join today and prepare to lead civic media literacy instruction with confidence, help your students develop critical skills, and bridge the gap between classrooms and communities.
Grow with a community of passionate peers while equipping your students with the skills of a journalist. Members gain access to a supportive educator cohort, vetted professional development materials, a comprehensive Journalistic Learning instructional plan (“The Effective Communicators course”), and more. Join today and prepare to lead civic media literacy instruction with confidence, help your students develop critical skills, and bridge the gap between classrooms and communities.

Membership includes:

Support
An Active Network of Peers
  • Access to JLC’s message board to chat with fellow members across the states
  • Attend exclusive bi-weekly webinars for additional insight and support
  • Receive bi-weekly tips and resources from our “Lens” newsletter
  • Curriculum and project implementation support from a veteran teacher and JLI Staff member
Training
Vetted Professional Development Materials
  • Explore 10 hours of self-paced online training material that prepares you to lead the Effective Communicators course in your class
  • Gain insights from professional development video courses on topics such as media literacy and social media mindfulness
  • Teachers who complete our PD materials overwhelmingly report feeling confident and prepared to lead civic media literacy instruction
Lesson Plans
Comprehensive Instructional Plan
+ JLI’s Suite of Ethical AI Coaches
  • The standards-aligned Effective Communicators course includes 30 detailed lesson plans with slides, worksheets, videos, podcasts, writing exemplars, assessments, and more
  • Members also receive free-range of JLI’s ethical AI coaches, including coinciding mini lessons (approx. a $3000 value!)
  • Also available in Spanish
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Connecting Classrooms with Communities

In traditional education systems, learning often takes place in a vacuum. At every step of the journalistic journey, students bridge the gap between school and the real world by connecting with their community in meaningful ways. They choose an issue unfolding in their community to investigate, research and interview local experts on the matter, and publish their findings for their community to see, allowing them to reflect on how their voices are making an impact.

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MEMBERS GET ACCESS TO

The Effective Communicators Course

The Effective Communicators course leads students start to finish through a Journalistic Learning project. The 45-day standards-aligned, project-based curriculum is ready to implement in 6th-12th grade English Language Arts and elective courses. All lessons and resources are available through an intuitive online platform. Students who participate emerge as effective communicators by researching, interviewing, writing, and publishing stories about self-selected community issues.

Learn More
MEMBERS GET ACCESS TO

The Effective Communicators Course

The Effective Communicators course leads students start to finish through a Journalistic Learning project. The 45-day standards-aligned, project-based curriculum is ready-to-implement in 6th-12th grade English Language Arts and elective courses. All lessons and resources are available through an intuitive online platform. Students who participate emerge as effective communicators by researching, interviewing, writing, and publishing stories about self-selected community issues.

Learn More

WHY JOIN?

Lead media literacy instruction with confidence

While 21 states now require some form of media literacy instruction, teachers lack support, proper resources, and up-to-date curriculum. The JLC prepares members to lead civic media literacy instruction with confidence and supplies them with comprehensive, standards-aligned lesson plans that prepare students for success in the digital age.

Incorporate journalism into your curriculum

Scholastic journalism programs are dwindling. Teachers are looking for ways to bring them back because they provide students with invaluable learning opportunities and connect classrooms with communities. JLC’s resources and network of educators will help you prepare to bring journalism back into your school through Journalistic Learning—no journalism experience required!

Connect with support systems to teach in tough times

Teachers today feel over-scrutinized and under-supported. Join our community to connect and grow with a supportive network of educators, receive guidance from our veteran program director, and access a library of resources, including our comprehensive, project-based curriculum that’s backed by researchers of the University of Oregon.

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JLI’s Ethical AI Coaches

From solutions journalism to essay writing, we offer a suite of ethical AI coaches to help students hone their writing skills while freeing teachers up for more individualized instructions. Typically available via monthly subscriptions or school-wide licensing, JLC membership includes free access to our entire AI suite.

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JLC History

What began as a fellowship program has evolved into a nationwide community. In its first four years, JLC was known as JLI’s Educator Fellowship program. Eventually it grew to a cohort of 68 teachers across 19 states. Today the program allows teachers nationwide to join for a nominal fee. Scholarship opportunities are available to teachers in underserved communities.

Scholarship application form

Explore the JLC learning platform

The online platform offers a simple, organized way to preview, use, download, copy or print the Effective Communicators resources from any device. This is also where members can manage our suite of AI coaches and set up access for their classes.

View the video walkthrough to discover the wealth of resources including:

Instructor onboarding
Detailed ECC lesson plans
Multimedia support materials including videos, podcasts, and slides
ELA College & Career Readiness Anchor Standards
Discussion board for support
And much more

FAQ

Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about JLC membership.

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