L.A. Youth newspapers and records, 1989-2013

Finding aid prepared by Melanie Jones, May 2016; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.

UCLA Library Special Collections

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575

(310) 825-4988

spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

Online finding aid last updated 16 December 2016.

Title: L.A. Youth newspapers and records

Collection number: 2297

Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 4.2 linear ft. (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.

Language of Materials: Materials are primarily in English.

Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Conditions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

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 or quote must be submitted in writing to the UCLA Library Special Collections Librarian 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

COLLECTION 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.

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.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 7989863

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of Youth News Service, dba L.A. Youth, 2015.

Processing Information

Processed by Melanie Jones in 2016 in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT) under the supervision of Courtney Dean.

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

Container List

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 1, Folder 1

Feb - June. 1989-1991.

Box 1, Folder 2

Feb - July. 1992.

Box 1, Folder 3

April - October. 1993.

Box 1, Folder 4

April - July. 1994.

Box 1, Folder 5

Sept - Dec. 1994.

Box 1, Folder 6

March - Dec. 1995.

Box 1, Folder 7

Nov - Feb. 1995-1996.

Box 1, Folder 8

May - Feb. 1996-1997.

Box 1, Folder 9

March - May. 1997.

Box 2, Folder 1

May - Oct. 1997.

Box 2, Folder 2

Nov - Feb. 1997-1998.

Box 2, Folder 3

March - June. 1998.

Box 2, Folder 4

Sept - Dec. 1998.

Box 2, Folder 5

Jan - April. 1999.

Box 2, Folder 6

May - Oct. 1999.

Box 2, Folder 7

Nov - Dec. 1999.

Box 2, Folder 8

Jan - April. 2000.

Box 2, Folder 9

May - Oct. 2000.

Box 3, Folder 1

Nov - Dec. 2000.

Box 3, Folder 2

Jan - April. 2001.

Box 3, Folder 3

May - Oct. 2001.

Box 3, Folder 4

Nov - Dec. 2001.

Box 3, Folder 5

Jan - April. 2002.

Box 3, Folder 6

May - Oct. 2002.

Box 3, Folder 7

Nov - Dec. 2002.

Box 3, Folder 8

Jan - June. 2003.

Box 4, Folder 1

Sept - Oct. 2003.

Box 4, Folder 2

Nov - Feb. 2003-2004.

Box 4, Folder 3

March - June. 2004.

Box 4, Folder 4

Sept - Dec. 2004.

Box 4, Folder 5

Jan - April. 2005.

Box 4, Folder 6

May - Sept. 2005.

Box 4, Folder 7

Oct - Nov. 2005.

Box 5, Folder 1

Jan - April. 2006.

Box 5, Folder 2

May - Sept. 2006.

Box 5, Folder 3

Oct - Nov. 2006.

Box 5, Folder 4

Jan - April. 2007.

Box 5, Folder 5

May - Sept. 2007.

Box 5, Folder 6

Oct - Dec. 2007.

Box 5, Folder 7

Jan - April. 2008.

Box 5, Folder 8

May - Sept. 2008.

Box 5, Folder 9

Oct - Dec. 2008.

Box 6, Folder 1

Jan - April. 2009.

Box 6, Folder 2

May - Sept. 2009.

Box 6, Folder 3

Oct - Dec. 2009.

Box 6, Folder 4

Jan - April. 2010.

Box 6, Folder 5

May - Sept. 2010.

Box 6, Folder 5

Oct - Dec. 2010.

Box 6, Folder 7

Jan - April. 2011.

Box 6, Folder 8

May - Sept. 2011.

Box 6, Folder 9

Oct - Dec. 2011.

Box 7, Folder 1

Jan - June. 2012.

Box 7, Folder 2

Sept - Oct. 2012.

Box 7, Folder 3

Jan - April. 2013.

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 10

Jan - Feb (1-2). 1996.

Box 10

March - April (1-2). 1996.

Box 10

May - June (1-2). 1996.

Box 10

Sept - Oct (1-2). 1996.

Box 10

Nov - Dec (1-4). 1996.

Box 10

Jan - Feb (1-2). 1997.

Box 10

Mar - April (1-2). 1997.

Box 10

May - June (1-3). 1997.

Box 10

Sept - Oct (1-2). 1997.

Box 10

Nov - Dec (1-2). 1997.

Box 10

Jan - Feb (1-2). 1998.

Box 10

March - April (1-2). 1998.

Box 10

May - June (1-2). 1998.

Box 10

Sept - Oct (1-2). 1998.

Box 10

Nov - Dec (1-2). 1998.

Box 10

Jan - Feb (1-2). 1999.

Box 10

March - April (1-2). 1999.

Box 10

May - June (1-2). 1999.

Box 10

Sept - Oct (1-2). 1999.

Box 10

Nov - Dec (1-2). 1999.

Box 10

Jan - Feb (1-2). 2000.

Box 10

March - April (1-2). 2000.

Box 10

May - June (1-2). 2000.

Box 10

August. 2000.

Box 10

Fall (1-2). 2000.

Box 10

Sept - Oct (1-3). 2000.

Box 10

Nov (1-2). 2000.

Box 10

Jan - Feb (1-4). 2001.

Box 10

March - April (1-4). 2001.

Box 10

May - June (1-5). 2001.

Box 10

Sept - Oct (1-4). 2001.

Box 10

Nov - Dec (1-2). 2001.

Box 10

Jan - Feb (1-6). 2002.

Box 10

March - April (1-4). 2002.

Box 10

May - June (1-4). 2002.

Box 10

Sept- Oct (1-2). 2002.

Box 10

Sports Fall (1-3). 2002.

Box 10

Nov - Dec (1-2). 2002.

Boxes 10-11

Jan - Feb (1-5). 2003.

Box 11

March - April (1-6). 2003.

Box 11

May - June (1-4). 2003.

Box 11

Fall Jobs (1-4). 2003.

Box 11

Sept (1-4). 2003.

Box 11

Nov - Dec (1-4). 2003.

Box 11

Jan (1-5). 2004.

Box 11

March - April (1-4). 2004.

Box 11

May - June (1-4). 2004.

Box 11

Sept (1-4). 2004.

Box 11

Oct (1-4). 2004.

Box 11

Nov - Dec (1-4). 2004.

Box 13

LA Youth Beta Tape. 2005-2007.

Box 13

Jan - Feb (1-5). 2005.

Box 13

March - April (1-6). 2005.

Box 13

May - June (1-4).

Box 13

Sept (1-4). 2005.

Box 13

Oct (1-4). 2005.

Box 13

Nov (1-2). 2005.

Box 13

Jan - Feb (1-4). 2006.

Box 13

March - April (1-4). 2006.

Box 13

May - June (1-4). 2006.

Box 13

Sept (1-4). 2006.

Box 13

Oct (1-4). 2006.

Box 13

Nov (1-4). 2006.

Box 13

Jan - Feb (1-4). 2007.

Box 12

March - April (1-6). 2007.

Box 12

May (1-6). 2007.

Box 12

Sept (1-6). 2007.

Box 12

Oct (1-3). 2007.

Box 12

Nov (1-3). 2007.

Box 12

Jan (1-10). 2008.

Box 12

March (1-2). 2008.

Box 12

May - June (1-2). 2008.

Box 12

Sept (1-2). 2008.

Box 12

Oct (1-2). 2008.

Box 12

Nov - Dec (1-2). 2008.

Box 12

Jan - Feb (1-2). 2009.

Box 12

March - April. 2009.

Box 12

May - June (1-2). 2009.

Box 12

Sept (1-4). 2009.

Box 12

Oct (1-3). 2009.

Box 12

Nov - Dec. 2009.

Box 12

Jan - Feb (1-2). 2010.

Box 12

March - April. 2010.

Box 12

May - June. 2010.

Box 9

Sept (1-2). 2010.

Box 9

Oct (1-3). 2010.

Box 9

Nov - Dec (1-2). 2010.

Box 9

Jan - Feb. 2011.

Box 9

March - April. 2011.

Box 9

May - June. 2011.

Box 9

Sept. 2011.

Box 9

Oct. 2011.

Box 9

Nov - Dec. 2011.

Box 9

Jan - Feb. 2012.

Box 9

March - April (1-2). 2012.

Box 9

May - June (1-2). 2012.

Box 9

Sept (1-3). 2012.

Box 9

Oct (1-2). 2012.

Box 9

Nov - Dec (1-2). 2012.

Box 9

Jan - Feb (1-5). 2013.

Box 9

Foster Youth EPS (Jan). 2001.

Box 9

Fonts (March). 2001.

Box 9

Education Report (March). 2001.

Box 9

CTI Reports (May). 2001.

Box 9

Dinner Programs (May). 2001.

Box 9

Anniversary Campaign (Sept). 2001.

Box 9

Ads (Oct). 2001.

Box 9

Invites (Nov). 2001.

Box 9

Moritz Design (Jan). 2002.

Box 9

Newsletters (Jan). 2002.

Box 9

Youth Chronicles (May). 2002.

Box 9

Website Postcard (March). 2002.

Box 9

Get Real Campaign (May). 2002.

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.

Box 8, Folder 1

Box 8, Folder 2

Box 8, Folder 3

Box 8, Folder 4

Box 8, Folder 5

Box 8, Folder 6

Box 8, Folder 7

Box 8, Folder 8

Releases: A-G. 2005-2013.

Box 8, Folder 9

Releases: H-P. 2004-2009.

Box 8, Folder 10

Releases: R-Z. 2006-2011.

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