Finding aid for the L.A. Youth newspapers and records, 1989-2013 LSC.2297
Machine-readable finding aid prepared by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 16 December 2016.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: L.A. Youth newspapers and records
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2297
Physical Description:
4.2 Linear Feet
(1 box, 7 flat boxes, 5 CD boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1989-2013
Abstract: This collection documents the publications, copyright agreements, digital archives, and release forms of the independent student-written
publication L.A. Youth, which ran from 1989 to 2013. It was the largest teen-run newspaper in the United States, and became
known for tackling controversial topics like gang violence, mental illness, teen homelessness, and partner abuse.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are primarily in English.
Conditions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Condtions on Use and Reproduction
Copyright to portions of this collection has been assigned to the UCLA Library Special Collections. The library can grant
permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish must be submitted
in writing to Library Special Collections. Credit shall be given as follows: The Regents of the University of California on
behalf of the UCLA Library Special Collections.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
CONTAINS DIGITAL MATERIALS: This collection contains processed digital materials. All requests to access digital materials
must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Youth News Service, dba L.A. Youth, 2015.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], L.A. Youth Newspapers and Records (Collection 2297). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E.
Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processing Information
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interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides
a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive
processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
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existing description of our materials that contains language
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UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
L.A. Youth was an independent, city-wide, teen-written newspaper that ran for 25 years, from 1988 to 2013. It was created
by former teacher Donna Myrow in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, which
empowered school administrators to control the content of school publications.
By 2002, L.A. Youth had an estimated readership of 350,000, making it the largest teen independent newspaper in the United
States. The newspaper, published every two months, was distributed for free to teachers in public, private, and charter schools,
community-based youth programs, and libraries, as well as centers for juvenile justice and foster care. The paper was also
sent abroad to students in China, France, and Africa.
In 2003, L.A. Youth's Foster Youth Writing and Education Project expanded its staff of writers to youth in foster care and
probation systems. As a tax-exempt non-profit, L.A. Youth partnered with organizations to fund their magazine and promote
awareness on issues like destigmatizing mental illness and advocating green living. Issues tackled subjects as wide-ranging
as homelessness, gang violence, suicide, sex education, electoral politics, educational reform, immigration, and homophobia.
From 2002-2005, eight L.A. Youth students were recognized at the Los Angeles Times High School Journalism Awards, and L.A.
Youth stories were reprinted in the Los Angeles Times (who provided major funding for printing costs) and The New York Times,
as well as adapted for NPR. Alums went on to work at the Baltimore Sun, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, NPR, Newsweek,
and the Chicago Reporter, among other top publications.
California's financial crisis and the 2008 recession hurt L.A. Youth's funding, and the newspaper closed shortly after publishing
its 25th anniversary issue. Their sister publication in New York, Represent Magazine, is still running.
Scope and Content
This collection documents the writings of the independent student-written publication L.A. Youth, which ran for 25 years before
closing operations in 2013. By 2002, it had an estimated readership of 350,000, distributed for free to teachers in public,
private, and charter schools, community-based youth programs, and libraries, as well as centers for juvenile justice and foster
care. In addition to print issues and a digital archive, the collection contains a guide to student journalism, copyright
forms, and release form by writers' parents and juvenile courts.
Materials are largely textual, comprising print issues of the publication and copyright and court release forms. Among other
formats are CDs and DVDs.
Some significant topics represented in these files are: gun violence, poverty, homelessness, mental illness, religious intolerance,
immigration, racism, police brutality, homophobia, domestic abuse and partner violence, sexual assault, gang warfare, addiction,
the foster care system, school shootings, weight issues, self-harm, school censorship, environmental activism, affirmative
action, and student employment.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has been arranged in the following series:
- Series 1: Print Issues (1989-2013)
- Series 2: Digital Archives and Production Files (1996-2013)
- Series 3: Copyright and Release Agreements (1998-2013)
The collection's series have been organized by publication date or subject name.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Student newspapers and periodicals
Print Issues
1989-2013
Scope and Content
This series comprises copies of the paper issues published every two months by L.A. Youth from 1989 to 2013. Significant topics
include gun violence, poverty, homelessness, mental illness, religious intolerance, immigration, racism, police brutality,
homophobia, domestic abuse and partner violence, sexual assault, gang warfare, addiction, the foster care system, school shootings,
weight issues, self-harm, school censorship, environmental activism, affirmative action, student employment, and the LA art
scene.
Organization and Arrangement
This series has been organized chronologically.
box 7
Death by Cheeseburger: High School Journalism in the 1990s and Beyond (The Freedom Forum)
1994
Scope and Content
Book on the history of high school journalism published by Freedom Forum in 1994.
Digital Archives and Production Files
1996-2013
Scope and Content
This series comprises digital records of the artwork and articles published by L.A. Youth from 1996 to 2013, as well as advertisements,
image files, teachers' guides, and other web materials. Significant topics include gun violence, poverty, homelessness, mental
illness, religious intolerance, immigration, racism, police brutality, homophobia, domestic abuse and partner violence, sexual
assault, gang warfare, addiction, the foster care system, school shootings, weight issues, self-harm, school censorship, environmental
activism, affirmative action, student employment, and the LA art scene.
Series contains 239 CDs (digital issues), 45 DVDs (designs, photos, ads).
Organization and Arrangement
This series has been organized chronologically.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
SERIES CONTAINS DIGITAL MATERIALS: Special equipment or further processing may be required for viewing. To access digital
materials you must notify the reference desk in advance of your visit.
box 13
LA Youth Beta Tape
2005-2007
box 9
Foster Youth EPS (Jan)
2001
box 9
Education Report (March)
2001
box 9
Dinner Programs (May)
2001
box 9
Anniversary Campaign (Sept)
2001
box 9
Youth Chronicles (May)
2002
box 9
Website Postcard (March)
2002
box 9
Get Real Campaign (May)
2002
Copyright and Release Agreements
1998-2013
Scope and Content
This series comprises copyright forms allowing L.A. Youth to publish teen writers' works and confirm that they will be credited
as authors, as well as releases from parents and juvenile court, including the Foster Youth Court, to allow interviewing,
photographing, videotaping, and publishing works by minors. This series spans 1989 to 2013.
Organization and Arrangement
This series has been organized by last name.
