What does a school newspaper look like in 2026?

In NuVu’s Citizens, Journalists, Influencers design studio, led by coach Heide Solbrig, students explored that question by building something both familiar and entirely contemporary: a student-run publication designed for the digital world. Part classic school paper, part media lab, the studio invited students to think critically about writing, publishing, politics, and responsibility—while giving them real ownership over what they put into the world.

“At its core, the idea was simple,” Heide explains. “A school paper—but in contemporary digital modes.” From the beginning, students were asked to consider not just how to write, but how journalism functions today: where the lines blur between journalist, influencer, and citizen, and how young people can find their voice in that space.

“Young people want to have a voice and feel ownership over talking to their community. This studio gave them a way to do that together—safely, thoughtfully, and with real responsibility.”

For this Journalism design studio, the aim was to create a live publication—hosted on Substack, supported by an Instagram feed, and shaped by student editors, writers, and artists.

Students wrote short-form pieces designed to engage a real audience. They edited one another’s work, requested feedback, and made decisions together about what to publish and how. Heide acted as editor and guide, helping students navigate journalistic standards while maintaining a safe environment to take risks.

“It’s exciting and a little romantic,” Heide says. “You’re the intrepid student journalist, writing for your community—and then you see your work published. That matters.”

But the studio went deeper than publishing alone. Students also grappled with real editorial questions: Should comments be enabled? How do you decide whether a source is trustworthy? What responsibility do you have to your audience?

“These are things young people are already navigating online,” Heide notes. “The studio gave them space to slow down and think critically about it—together.”

“These are things kids are already navigating online all the time. What this studio did was give them the space to slow down, think critically, and talk through those decisions together.”

The journalism studio proved to be a powerful entry point for a wide range of learners. While writing sat at the center of the studio, students also contributed through illustration, photography, design, and social media strategy. One student took on managing the Instagram account as her primary project, while others stepped into editorial roles.

What surprised Heide most was how naturally the studio took off.

“This has been one of the most fluid studios I’ve taught,” she says. “People wanted to post. They edited their work. They asked for feedback. There was a sense of ownership right away.”

“I think one of the most important things students learned is that you don’t have to do this alone. Journalism—and being online—can feel risky. Doing it together changes everything.”

The topics students chose reflected both their curiosity and their awareness of the world around them. Students wrote about contemporary issues in Cambridge, including surveillance cameras under city council debate. Others explored the language used to describe neighborhoods and transit stations, unpacking how covert racism shows up in everyday speech.

One student examined the rise of fascism online and how young people can recognize it. Another compared experimental schools—drawing connections between her own education, historical models like Black Mountain College, and political theories she’s studying. Others analyzed pop culture, from Stranger Things to modern moral panics.

What united the work was its relevance. Students weren’t writing hypotheticals; they were engaging with issues that affect their lives and communities right now.

“This studio just took off. Students wanted to post, they wanted feedback, they edited their work. It was clear this was something they wanted to be part of.”

The studio culminated in a public presentation, where students invited the broader NuVu community to subscribe to their publication. The response was immediate—and encouraging.

Looking ahead, Heide sees the project continuing beyond the studio. Plans are already in motion to transition the publication into a peer-led group, where students serve as editors and contributors across the school, with Heide remaining as advisor and editor-in-chief.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” she emphasizes. “That’s a big lesson here—especially online.”

In the Journalism studio, students didn’t just learn how to write. They learned how to collaborate, how to take responsibility for a shared project, and how to speak thoughtfully to a real audience. They practiced short-form writing, editorial judgment, and ethical decision-making—skills that will serve them far beyond this studio.

Most importantly, they learned that their voices matter—and that when given the right structure and support, they can use those voices with care.

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Check out NuVu's student paper here: https://nuvunews.substack.com

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