The New York Times Upfront

The New York Times Upfront, published by Scholastic, Inc.  ISSN 15251292 

 

Summary 

The New York Times Upfront is a joint venture between The New York Times newspaper and the publisher Scholastic.  The goal of this magazine is to present news and current events to teens in an engaging format that is not overly challenging.  This way, young adults can become informed about issues without struggling to get through more challenging writing.  Essentially, The New York Times provides stories that can be reformatted to engage a younger readership while providing a clear gateway to a more adult paper if the teen feels like they want to learn more.  This magazine is published fourteen times a year, and is supplemented by a digital version with more articles upon subscription.  Articles range from domestic to foreign news to teen issues to the internet and the media; there is a mix of headier subject matter with more fun or personal articles as well.

Evaluation 

In catering to a younger audience, The New York Times Upfront does an excellent job at not only presenting news in a simpler, easier to understand manner, but it does so in a vibrant layout that is aimed to be exciting.  Also, most articles tie back to how current event issues can affect a teen or why it is relevant in their life.  There is a strong sense that local and world events are important, and by reinforcing the relevancy of current events Upfront is poised to create a politically and socially interested teen base.

Curriculum Ties 

History-Current Events

Reading Level/Interest Age 

Older teens, particularly those showing an interest in politics or current events, but even without that interest, this publication could ignite that interest subtly.

Reason Selected

Non-fiction reading is always a tough selection in my case.  Upfront is an easy choice, however, because it can strengthen a teen's non-fiction reading skills, educate them on current domestic and global events, and encourage them to learn more.  After all, this is news skewed to a younger audience and is simpler, but it can open a teen's eyes to issues they may want to learn more about and become more engaged in not only reading but also societal and political issues.  Cultivating all of these interests at a younger age is necessary for an educated populace, and Upfront is a good step in this direction.

References 

The New York Times Upfront. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times_Upfront