On Deadline was compiled and edited by Mark Mahoney, editorial page editor of The Post-Star in Glens Falls, N.Y. If you have an innovations or inspiration you'd like to share with American Editor readers, please e-mail it to Mark at mahoney@poststar.com.

Fall 2008 And you think you’ve had some stinkers Lifetime of achievement Should shield law shield bloggers too? The joke’s on politicians When life gives you lemons… Better race reporting All talk Teaching the next generation

ASNE FUELS INTEREST IN JOURNALISM among our youth through its High School Journalism Institute.

The overall program, funded by the Knight Foundation since 2000, includes a $3 million grant from 2007-09. In addition, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in 2007 committed $2.3 million over three years to an intensive two-week training program for high school journalism teachers.

Those teachers then pass what they've learned on to the next generation.

Rex Smith, editor of the Times Union in Albany, N.Y., and chair of ASNE's Education for Journalism Committee, said the program graduates are doing more than just spreading the word about journalism.

“These teachers impart the life skills of writing, reading and critical thinking. And they prepare the next generation of journalists and news consumers in areas from multimedia to news literacy and the First Amendment.”

In 2008, there were a record 400 applicants. Most of the 163 teachers selected for the program work in urban and rural areas where journalism education is most under stress.

Since 2001, 1,269 high school teachers have completed the Institute, and most continue to teach journalism and/or advise student media.

Another measure of success: ASNE's My.hsj.org, the world's largest host of student news, since April has doubled the number of student media online — there are now more than 1,500 sites. *