NIE General Information

Participating NIE teachers resources and downloads

Jump to:

• What is Newspaper in Education?
• Goals of NIE
• Newspapers are successful learning tools because...
• NIE at The Pantagraph
• How teachers can participate in NIE and receive FREE curriculum materials
• E-mail NIE

What is Newspaper in Education (NIE)?

NIE is an international program which has been in existence for more than 60 years. Teachers throughout the world use newspapers to introduce or reinforce concepts to students of any ability level in grades from kindergarten through adult education.

Newspapers aren't just for current events. Receiving the newspaper in a classroom is like having a new textbook each delivery day. Teachers and students study language arts, reading, math, science, social studies, consumer ed, journalism, life skills, critical thinking and more using newspapers.

Goals of NIE

To help students become informed and involved citizens who can determine and guide their own destinies in a democratic society.

To help students develop skills of critical reading by teaching competence in newspaper reading.

To provide educators with an economical, effective and exciting teaching vehicle for lessons in writing, history, mathematics, current events, consumer affairs, ecology and scores of other subjects and themes.

To foster students' personal growth through the use of the newspaper to provide information, entertainment and skills necessary for modern life.

Newspapers are successful learning tools because...

They can be used for any grade level, kindergarten through adult, and for any subject.

They are fresh, up-to-date and practical. They help bridge the gap between the textbook and the real world.

Newspapers provide students with many opportunities to practice what they have learned in class. Even reluctant learners will practice reading material that interests them: sports scores, movie times, comic strips.

Newspapers provide an abundance of interesting reading material on a daily basis. Newspaper-related activities enhance mastery of basic reading, writing and thinking skills.

Newspapers bring lessons alive. Exercises that are just "schoolwork" become exciting and fun when they require the newspaper. The lessons are more likely to be retained and are more easily seen as relevant. Plus, it's a textbook that can be cut or marked.

With newspapers, learning is something that occurs both in and out of school. Parents and teacher can take part in students' educational activities.

Newspapers can stand alone as teaching tools -- or they can be used as supplements to other instructional techniques.

NIE at The Pantagraph

The Pantagraph provides curriculum materials, staff to administer the program, one-half the price of the newspapers and finds Partners in Learning to reduce or eliminate costs to teachers.

We provide free teaching materials that are full of information and newspaper activities on a variety of subjects to teachers who are participating in NIE.

Special youth content is also provided through our NIE program. The Mini Page pull-out is available only through the NIE program. Teachers who receive Tuesday papers get the Mini Page. It is written for the elementary school student.

We include a newspaper activity on the Flying Horse page of the Sunday Comics to promote family reading and literacy.

In 2000, The Pantagraph's NIE program won one of five Newspaper Innovators in Education Awards. This national competition was open to newspapers of all sizes. The Pantagraph's Newspaper in Education program was awarded first place in our circulation category in the 1995 Editor & Publisher/International Newspaper Marketing Association awards, competing against newspapers from across the U.S. and 24 other countries.

How teachers can participate in NIE and receive FREE curriculum materials

Teachers in elementary through adult education in The Pantagraph circulation area may enroll in our NIE program.

NIE papers are available Monday through Saturday in quantities of five or more.

The papers will be delivered to a predetermined location at your school early in the morning, (between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.). The key bundle has the teacher's name and tells the number of bundles for that day.

Each school year, all participating teachers may choose a curriculum guide from a list of 25 different titles. The titles and a summary of the guides that contain information, tips and activities for using the newspaper in the classroom may be reached from this link.

Throughout the school year, The Pantagraph sponsors special thematic activities, projects and contests. Watch for more information about them in The Pantagraph and on this Web site. If you are already receiving The Pantagraph in your classroom, you'll be able to take advantage of these special topics just by requesting the related materials. Newspaper subscriptions and materials will be offered as a package if you are not already subscribing to The Pantagraph.

For more information on The Pantagraph's Newspaper in Education program, or to order your classroom subscription to The Pantagraph, call Jonell Kehias at (309) 820-3350 or (800) 747-7323, ext. 350 You may also e-mail Jonell with comments or questions. To enroll in The Pantagraph NIE program, complete the form.

Partners in Learning

To provide newspapers to as many Central Illinois Students as possible, The Pantagraph makes NIE papers available at the maximum discount allowed under industry regulations. In many schools, budgets are so tight that students can receive newspapers only if individual or corporate sponsors help underwrite the cost.

There are three levels of our Partners in Learning program. The business level consists of businesses and organizations that contribute from $100 to $900. Corporate Partners donate from $1,000 to $5,000. The third component of our Partners in Learning is our subscribers. Through Vacation Donations and individual contributions with bill payments, they provide newspapers to many classrooms. Each month, all three types of Partners are recognized in The Pantagraph.

To become our Partner and to help put newspapers in our local classrooms, please call Jonell Kehias at (309) 820-3350 or (800) 747-7323, ext. 350. You may also e-mail Jonell with your sponsorship questions.