Award Memorializes Journalism Educator, Journalist and Wordsmith Who Created It
The Deadline Club is pleased to announce that Jacqueline Linge, journalism teacher at Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, is the 2018 recipient of The Robert Greenman Award for High School Journalism Teaching and Advising.
The award, along with a video honor, was presented at the Deadline Club’s annual journalism awards dinner on Monday, May 21, in New York City.
Linge, the adviser to the award-winning Francis Lewis News, built the journalism program from the ground up. She joined the school as a teacher in 2012 after several years as a professional multimedia journalist. What she started as a weekly after-school club became a full-fledged three-year Journalism Academy serving 45 students.
As a certified special education teacher, Linge creates an inclusive environment in her classroom newsroom, allowing all students to tell stories through various mediums. “A multimedia news organization naturally allows for differentiation in the classroom,” said Linge. “It empowers students of all abilities to learn how to report in the medium that works best for them. I think that audiences, as well as the journalism profession, benefit from the inclusion and diversity of these voices.”
Linge’s students consider her a teacher and a mentor. “The school newspaper isn’t only about writing upcoming news events going on in the school,” wrote senior Katelyn Chau, 17, in her nomination letter. “Ms. Linge motivates the class to tackle large issues that we’re passionate about, such as sexual harassment, recycling, the travel ban and gender barriers. Writing about issues like these have definitely brought awareness to the students at our school, as we’re often able to relate to the viewpoints of our schoolmates. She has truly brought change to the school community and the classroom.”
The Journalism Academy is in its third year of operation and has won multiple awards at the Newsies!, an award competition run by the NYC High School Journalism Collaborative at Baruch College. Linge has a master’s degree in education from St. John’s University, master’s degree in journalism from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, a J.D. from CUNY Law School, and a bachelor’s degree in history from Oberlin College.
“Jacqueline’s commitment to journalism and to her students reflects the mission of the Deadline Club in stimulating high standards and best practices,” said Claire Regan, president of the club and an assistant professor of journalism at Wagner College. “We salute her passion and professionalism.”
This is the first time the award has gone to a teacher who oversees an exclusively digital student news publication.
This year’s award is named in honor of journalism educator, author, wordsmith and long-time friend and board member of the Deadline Club, Robert Greenman, who died in April. Greenman’s importance in journalism education cannot be overstated. He wrote “The Adviser’s Companion,” the seminal guide for high school journalism teachers and played a key role in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. He served as a bridge between journalism professionals and journalism teachers and inspired thousands of student journalist through his engaging, insightful and witty workshops. Greenman launched the Award for High School Journalism Teaching and Advising at the Deadline Club more than 10 years ago.
Linge is the 12th recipient of this annual recognition. Past honorees include Cadence Turner (Curtis High School, Staten Island), Scott Menscher (Edward R. Murrow High School, Brooklyn) and Brian Sweeney (Townsend Harris High School, Queens).
About the Deadline Club:
The Deadline Club, which is the New York City chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, has been supporting and honoring the best in New York journalism since 1925. It adheres to the mission of the Society, which is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.