Don't Print That! Giving Teens the Power of the Press

From 1988 to 2013, teens in Los Angeles had a unique opportunity to publish their own stories in L. A. Youth, a newspaper by and about teens, distributed throughout Southern California.




Taking on such issues as involuntary hospitalization of "troublesome" teens, police abuse, and homelessness; sharing experience with racial discrimination, life on the streets and incarceration; and reporting on news of the day, the teens learned first hand the power of the press and the responsibilities that come with free speech.




It wasn't easy - money was always short, workspace always cramped - but for 25 years, L. A. Youth gave teens a rare public voice.