NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION (NIE)

The New York Times set up the first formal Newspapers in Education (NIE) program in the 1930’s. The popular program soon spread across the country. The Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander have provided free newspapers to classrooms throughout Hancock County since 1998.

Reading an “adult medium” like newspapers challenges students to develop reading, speaking and critical thinking skills.

We are some of only a few papers in Maine to participate in the NIE program.

Teachers have attributed lengthened attention span, better reading comprehension and renewed interest in regular classroom work to using newspapers in the classroom — and students find learning from the newspaper fun!

Thanks to the generosity of subscribers and business sponsors who offset the cost of the subscriptions, students and teachers throughout Hancock, Knox and Waldo Counties have classroom access each week to the print and digital editions. Students can certainly relate to the detailed school news and sports coverage; the feature stories tell of interesting people and activities in and around the communities the students live in, and in-depth coverage of local municipal governments teaches civics at a local level that will inspire civic engagement and citizenship among the students.

Thank you to our NIE Sponsors

A curriculum employing Newspapers in Education is like having an updated real-time living history book every week.

The Ellsworth American logo
Mount Desert Islander logo

Thanks to the generosity of our subscribers, area business sponsors, and for 2022-2023 school year, the Stephen and Tabatha King Foundation, we are able to provide digital or print subscriptions to The Ellsworth American and the Mount Desert Islander free of charge for Hancock County teachers who request them for classroom use.

Enroll Your Classroom

Please enroll your classroom by September 2, 2022

Courier-Gazette logo
Republican Journal logo

We are excited to launch our inaugural Newspapers In Education program in Knox and Waldo Counties for the 2022-2023 school year.  Digital and print subscriptions of either The Courier-Gazette or The Republican Journal are available on request for use in the classroom. There is no charge for these subscriptions as we welcome business sponsors and generous subscribers to help underwrite the cost of the publications.

Enroll Your Classroom

Please enroll your classroom by September 9, 2022

NIE would not be possible without the generous underwriting of business sponsors and subscribers who understand and appreciate the educational value of this program.

Learn how you can support Newspapers In Education

For Subscribers:

For Businesses and Advertisers:

  • The Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander advertisers and Businesses in Hancock County can email [email protected].
  • The Courier Gazette and The Republican Journal Advertisers and Businesses in Waldo and Knox Counties can email [email protected].