Foundation

The NAA Foundation focuses on Newspaper In Education, newspaper youth content, scholastic journalism and diversity. In this blog, you'll learn about products, programs and resources that emphasize the use of newspapers and other media by young people. You'll also learn about programs and activities that can help news media companies transform their cultures in order to grow business and increase readership and audience.

teens tell it like it is/final thoughts

The teen fellows' presentation to the Foundation Board of Trustees concluded with a short question-and-answer session.

In response to a query about online advertising, Jackie Slack (Phoenix 2008) recalled an ESPN banner ad for Monday night football. It drew her in, she said, because it involved an interactive game. "I watched football that night," she noted.

Elliot Butay (Phoenix 2008) followed up by saying that Facebook has done a good job of making ads relevant to users. He also responded to a question about what teens pay for online: "We download a lot of music."

Elliot also mentioned eBay as a place where teens spend money, prompting Andre Haughton (St. Louis 2006 and World/DC 2007) to add that if it weren't for music and shopping, "nine times out of 10 we don't pay for anything on the Internet."

The final question involved use of college campus newspapers. Andre, a student at the University of Florida, said his campus paper is "branded -- it's the thing to read." The reason for that, he said, is that "campus papers do a good job because they keep their ear to the street."

This concludes our look at what three teens had to say about what newspapers can do better to attract young people to their products. Again, if you'd like to see the most recent presentation by the Foundation's teen fellows, click here.

About Marina Hendricks

Marina Hendricks is manager of the NAA Foundation. She manages Newspaper In Education, youth content and scholastic journalism programs, oversees the development of print and online products, and coordinates the NAA Foundation Web site, www.naafoundation.org. Before joining the Foundation, Marina was a features writer and the teen editor at The Charleston Gazette in West Virginia. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Marshall University.