Newspaper in Education

What does NIE stand for?
NIE stands for Newspaper in Education. The NIE department at the Gazette helps local teachers who want to use the newspaper as a teaching tool in their classrooms. Some NIE teachers teach about the newspaper; some NIE teachers teach with the newspaper. NIE teachers use the newspaper in their lesson plans not as an extra activity but as a tool to help them meet the curriculum standards set by the state.

Is the Gazette the only newspaper with an NIE department?
No! NIE departments can be found across the country and around the world. NIE's history is long! As early as the 1950s newspapers (like the New York Times!) began delivering copies to schools for use in the classroom. By the 1970s, NIE programs were sprouting across the globe. Today there are thousands of NIE programs, from New Zealand and Malaysia to Canada and Australia!

How can a teacher participate in NIE?
Call or email the NIE department (585-5289 or niep@gazettenet.com). Tell us how you would like to use newspapers in your classroom and we'll help you in any way we can. You can receive papers once a week or once a month. You can receive Wednesday papers, which include the Kid Scoop page, or, you can choose any other day of the week. If you need help with funding, we'll find a sponsor for you.

What does NIE sponsorship mean?
We make newspapers available to teachers at a special half-price education rate - only .25 per issue. The Gazette picks up the remainder of the cost and provides all curriculum materials for free. However, in a time of dwindling resources many schools can't afford the discounted rate. In these cases, the papers are paid for by community business sponsors. We match classrooms with business sponsors. The sponsors cover the costs and the classroom corresponds with the sponsor during the year.

What is Kid Scoop?
Kid Scoop is our weekly NIE page. It is in your Gazette every Wednesday during the school year. Kid Scoop contains news, curriculum activities and games designed to motivate elementary and middle school readers. Plus, Kid Scoop contains a writing column for kids to publish their work!

What happens at an NIE workshop?
NIE teacher workshops are held at the Gazette office. The themes change throughout the year but the format remains the same. We teach you creative ways to use the newspaper in the classroom, NOT as an extra subject but as a tool to help you reach your state curriculum goals. Examples of workshop themes include: photography, journalism, local science, literacy.