Information for Journalism Advisors

The Epilepsy Foundation is pleased to introduce a program, targeted to young journalists, which we developed not long ago. Its goal is to improve young people’s awareness and understanding of epilepsy by encouraging high school journalists to write about the condition and the unique challenges that their peers who have epilepsy face. Our YRC (Young Reporter’s Club) program will also give your students a chance to win college scholarships, receive community service credits and to have their work published in print and online publications.

Research indicates that students do not know much about epilepsy – also known as a seizure disorder. A recent study of 20,000 American teens found high levels of confusion about the condition, a good deal of suspicion, and the troubling perception that students with seizures were likely to be isolated, teased and even bullied at school. At the same time, students who had more information about the condition were likely to be more accepting of those who have it. Our program is therefore designed to raise awareness, fight stigma and help the thousands of teens who live with seizures. In addition, we feel that the program will provide young journalists with valuable writing experience that they can draw on later in their careers.

The Foundation requests your support in this effort. We hope you will encourage your reporters to participate in the YRC program during the coming school year. With the support of our sponsor, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we will be awarding three college scholarships in June 2006. The first place winner will receive $2,000 and two runners-up will each receive $1,000. Deadline for entries is May 15, 2006. We will also work with individual schools to arrange for students participating in the program to receive community service credits. Selected articles will appear in the Epilepsy Foundation’s print magazine, EpilepsyUSA, as well as on the Foundation’s website.

In this section is a toolkit for your students to use in researching their articles about epilepsy. For more information about YRC (Young Reporter’s Club), please email editor@efa.org or call (800) 470-1655, ext. 3775.

We look forward to this exciting new program and working with high school journalists to get the word out about epilepsy.