Scripps Howard Foundation: Programs and Projects

Teen Appeal

In Memphis, for more than a decade, a partnership between the Foundation, the University of Memphis, The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis public schools continues to pay dividends. The Teen Appeal has provided an opportunity to work on a high school newspaper -- and opportunity that would otherwise have been denied to Memphis public high school students, whose schools do not have student newspapers.

The year stars in the summer with the Lionel Linder (late editor of The Commercial Appeal) Journalism Camp where 45 students explore reporting, writing and photography. They form the core of the staff for the Teen Appeal, a monthly student newspaper distributed free to all Memphis high schools.

Students pursing a journalism career are eligible for college scholarships. Since the program started, more than 60 Teen Appeal alums have gone on to major or minor in journalism or mass communications in college, and several are distinguishing themselves in the profession today.

For information about the program, contact Marcus Matthews, former Teen Appeal student staff member and now coordinator of Teen Appeal, The University of Memphis at 1-901-678-4710 or mlmtthws@memphis.edu

2009 Scholarship Recipients

Arkansas State University
Shunitra Ingram
Ashleigh Taylor

Clark Atlantic University
Folasade Omogun

Loyola University at Chicago
Dominique Stem

Southwest Community College
Tario Dunlap

University of Memphis
Christopher Cody
Silas Vassar III

University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Mya Donald
Melody Kay Gordon
Myiesha Griffin
Erica Horton
Jodie Johnson
Courtney Mauldin