Over the past several years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of local newspapers shutting down. According to the Local News Initiative, started by the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in 2016, almost 40 percent of local newspapers in the U.S. have disappeared, with more than 130 publications shut down in the past year, with the Press & Guide, which served the Dearborn community for over a century, being one of the most recent publications to close its doors.

Because so many Americans go without access to local news, student journalists, at both the high school and college levels, have increasingly stepped up to serve their local communities. One such example is the Michigan Daily, which is run by students at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The Ann Arbor News went out of business in 2009, and the Ann Arbor Chronicle, an online newspaper focused on the city government, followed suit, shuttering in 2014. Since then, the over 120,000 residents of Ann Arbor have relied on the students of The Michigan Daily to report on the municipal government and serve as community watchdogs; the Daily has dedicated an entire section of the newspaper to investigative pieces.

While many people may be hesitant to put their trust in adolescents and young adults, believing they may lack the maturity and discipline necessary to produce thorough and unbiased coverage on local affairs, student publications across the country have proven their commitment to journalistic integrity and excellence, breaking consequential news stories like a sextortion ring targeting young students in the Aurora, Colorado area, and favoritism of students from elite backgrounds by Ivy league donors. Michigan State University’s independent student newspaper, The State News, was at the forefront of covering the Larry Nassar scandal, with national news outlets often referencing stories published by the student journalists.

Without student journalists, many Americans would not have any way to know what is going on in their community, creating breeding grounds for political corruption and disinformation. By supporting student publications, the general public is investing in a future of principled and trustworthy journalism.

School newspapers also allow student journalists to speak their minds without being held to a publication’s personal or political bias, and do so responsibly. Regardless of where a student lands on the political spectrum or what race, religion, or gender they are, if they have a topic that they feel passionate about, they shouldn’t be censored by someone who disagrees. Student publications not only give students that platform but also teach them how to voice those opinions responsibly.

Student publications are held to the same standard of journalism ethics as professional news publications. Students can’t just write about the first thing that comes to their mind without knowing much about it, at the risk of spreading misinformation, or committing libel. Instead, young journalists learn to research, interview sources and take the time to better understand what their topic is and be sufficiently informed before writing their piece credibly and objectively.

The freedom that student journalists have also allows them to write about topics and events that might get overlooked or ignored by bigger publications. Stories like local protests, small businesses, and people in the community doing important work would probably not be recognized if not for school publications.

Schools newspapers give aspiring student journalists the platform and resources to speak their minds responsibly and respectfully. They are vital for young people to talk about what’s important to them and their community.

Diversity, which is equally important, is an integral foundation to student publications. With government attempts to suppress and disenfranchise the marginalized, such as people of color and immigrants, student newspapers can be the voice of diverse student bodies across American colleges.

Student journalism creates a welcoming space for people from all walks of life to find and embrace their unique voices without fear of discrimination. Diversity and its multidimensions are where innovation, connection, and growth are found—this expression is showcased exceptionally through student news publications.

Journalism is inherently explorative and inquisitive, leading students down avenues that they may not have wandered down before. An immigrant in Dearborn who joins a school newspaper could find their community by interviewing people at the Arab American National Museum or the DIA. A closeted queer student might find acceptance in their personal voice through student journalism by writing a piece about a new LGBTQ+ show on Netflix or chronicling the history of queer authors.

Even for students who feel like they don’t have a community, there is a place for them in the student newspaper to be heard and feel supported. For many students, the first time they see their story in print is the first time they feel seen at all.

In a world that too often tells young people to stay quiet and conform, journalism teaches students how to credibly and accurately express their diverse voices and opinions. Diversity is a boundless and enriching mosaic—these traits are invaluable to the foundation of student publications. No two students walk the same path to the newsroom, and that’s exactly what makes their stories worth reading.