CA High School Journalism Curriculum
Give your high schooler the skills to report, write, and edit with confidence. StudyPug lessons follow what California schools teach in Foundations of Journalism.
About High School California Journalism
California high school journalism follows the California ELA Standards, which emphasize reading, writing, and communication across real-world contexts. Foundations of Journalism builds on these by covering news writing, reporting techniques, media literacy, editorial judgment, and ethical standards in journalism. Students develop the ability to gather information, evaluate sources, and craft clear, accurate stories for a variety of audiences. StudyPug provides step-by-step lessons, guided practice, and worked examples aligned to what California classrooms teach at this level.
- Core journalism strands: news writing, reporting, media literacy, editorial judgment, and ethics
- Step-by-step lessons and guided practice for every topic
- Worked examples and practice problems tied to California ELA Standards
- On-demand access so students can review any concept at their own pace
Curriculum topics by strand
Find lessons and practice for every Foundations of Journalism topic, aligned to California ELA Standards.
California High School Journalism Topics
- News Writing: Students learn to structure news stories, write clear leads, and present facts accurately for a general audience.
- Reporting Techniques: Covers how to gather information, conduct interviews, and verify sources before publishing a story.
- Media Literacy: Examines how to critically evaluate print, digital, and broadcast media and identify bias or misinformation.
- Editorial Judgment: Focuses on deciding what stories matter, how to prioritize coverage, and how to present multiple perspectives fairly.
- Journalism Ethics: Explores standards for accuracy, fairness, privacy, and responsible reporting in professional and student journalism.
How StudyPug Helps California High School Journalism Students
When a student gets stuck on a news writing assignment or needs to understand how to evaluate a source, StudyPug provides step-by-step lessons that break each skill into clear, manageable parts. Students can revisit the explanation and work through practice problems until the concept clicks, without waiting for the next class period.
The lessons are organized by topic so a student can jump straight to the strand giving them trouble - whether that is structuring a lead, spotting bias in a media piece, or understanding the ethics of a difficult reporting decision.
Aligned to California High School Journalism Curriculum
Every Foundations of Journalism lesson on StudyPug is built around the California ELA Standards and the skills California high school journalism courses are expected to develop, so students practice what their teacher is actually covering in class - not a generic set of skills from another state or curriculum.
Written by the StudyPug English Team
Last updated June 5, 2026
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