Write real news. See your name in print.
An interactive writing school for 11–12 year olds that teaches real journalism skills — from cracking the perfect headline to publishing a polished front page. Kids write with purpose, think critically, and see their words in print.

"Every writing rule I teach has a real job to do — and the moment a kid sees that, everything changes."— Nisky

What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Construct a gripping headline and lead sentence using the Inverted Pyramid structure to hook readers instantly
- Identify and separate facts from opinions in any news or informational text using evidence-based annotation skills
- Integrate direct quotes accurately into writing with correct punctuation, capitalisation, and attribution
- Evaluate bias and credibility in media texts, distinguishing objective data from emotional or persuasive language
- Draft a cohesive, formatted news article that includes a headline, lead, body paragraph, and cited source
- Export and share a designed digital front page as a completed, publish-ready news story
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
4 modules · 8 lessons

The Journalist's Toolkit
Students are introduced to the mindset and core structural methods of journalistic writing. They explore how professional reporters approach a story, before diving into the Inverted Pyramid — the foundational framework that governs how news articles are organised. This module establishes the essential prerequisite knowledge (reporter's questions, story structure, and headline craft) that all subsequent modules build upon. Completing this module satisfies the 'Construct a gripping headline and lead sentence using the Inverted Pyramid structure' outcome. Curriculum Codes: ACARA AC9E6LY01 / US CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.4 / UK KS3 Writing.
- 1.1Think Like a ReporterIncluded
- 1.2Uncovering the HookIncluded
Truth, Bias, and the Critical Eye
Students develop critical media literacy skills by learning to distinguish objective facts from opinions, and to detect bias and credibility issues in news and informational texts. This module maps to two target outcomes: 'Identify and separate facts from opinions using evidence-based annotation skills' and 'Evaluate bias and credibility in media texts, distinguishing objective data from emotional or persuasive language.' Running these two lessons together is essential — students must first be able to separate fact from opinion before they can analyse the more nuanced concept of bias and source credibility. Curriculum Codes: ACARA AC9E6RE02 / US CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.8 / UK KS3 Reading.
- 2.1Fact vs OpinionIncluded
- 2.2Bias DetectivesIncluded
The Craft of Quoting
Students master the technical and stylistic skills required to integrate direct quotes into journalistic writing accurately and fluently. This module addresses two target outcomes: 'Integrate direct quotes accurately with correct punctuation, capitalisation, and attribution' and begins bridging toward the final publication task by teaching students how quotes function not merely as correct grammar exercises but as structural storytelling tools that add voice, authority, and credibility to an article. Curriculum Codes: ACARA AC9E6LA03 / US CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.6.2 / UK KS3 Grammar.
- 3.1The Quote CollectorIncluded
- 3.2Weaving Quotes into Your StoryIncluded
Publish Your Front Page
Students apply every skill developed across the course — Inverted Pyramid structure, fact/opinion distinction, bias awareness, and accurate quote integration — to independently draft, design, and publish a complete, cohesive news article and front-page layout. This culminating module directly satisfies the final two target outcomes: 'Draft a cohesive, formatted news article that includes a headline, lead, body paragraph, and cited source' and 'Export and share a designed digital front page as a completed, publish-ready news story.' The module is deliberately split into a drafting lesson (writing process) and a design-and-publication lesson (production process) to ensure neither skill is rushed. Curriculum Codes: ACARA AC9E6LY01 / AC9E6RE02 / AC9E6LA03 / US CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.4 / UK KS3 Writing.
- 4.1Drafting Your News StoryIncluded
- 4.2Front Page Design and PublicationIncluded
Who it's for
Is this you?
The Curious Reader
They devour books and news but have never seen themselves as a writer — journalism gives their curiosity a creative outlet and a real product to show for it.
The Opinion-Haver
They always have something to say; this school teaches them how to back it up with facts, quotes, and evidence instead of just volume.
The Reluctant Writer
School essays feel pointless to them — but writing a real news story with a real purpose and a real front page? That's a completely different game.
The Digital Native
They live online and consume media constantly; learning to evaluate bias and credibility makes them a sharper, more critical thinker in the spaces they already inhabit.
The Future Storyteller
Creative kids who love narratives will find journalism stretches them in a new direction — telling true stories with structure, precision, and impact.
The Homeschool Achiever
Parents looking for a rigorous, curriculum-aligned enrichment programme will find this school delivers English, media literacy, and critical thinking all in one.
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Nisky
You know that moment when a kid writes something and their whole face changes — like they've suddenly realised their words have power? That's what I built this school for.
I know where a lot of 11 and 12 year olds are sitting right now. They're smart. They have opinions. They notice things. But somewhere along the way, writing became a chore — a set of rules to follow without knowing why, and a blank page that never quite felt worth filling. If that sounds familiar, I want you to know: it's not a writing problem. It's a purpose problem.
Journalism fixes that. When you're writing a real story — with a real angle, real quotes, and a real front page that other people will actually read — suddenly every writing skill has a reason. The headline needs to grab attention. The lead sentence needs to put the most important fact first. The quote needs the right punctuation because that's how you show a real person said it. Every rule clicks into place because it does something. That's what The Young Journalist teaches, module by module, from the very first lesson.
We move through four stages together: building the journalist's mindset, developing a critical eye for bias and truth, mastering the craft of quoting, and finally publishing a complete, designed front page. Each stage is practical and hands-on. Students don't just read about journalism — they practise it, exactly the way a reporter in a real newsroom would.
I also believe that media literacy is one of the most important skills we can give young people right now. Being able to look at a news story and spot the difference between a fact and an opinion, or identify the loaded word that tips a headline from neutral to persuasive — that's not just useful for English class. That's a life skill. And it's woven all the way through this school.
So if your child is ready to write with purpose, think critically, and see their name on a front page — I'd love to welcome them into the newsroom. The story's waiting. Let's go find it.
— Nisky
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- 4 modules, 8 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed