My Turn

by Debra J. Mamorsky
Founder and Editor in Chief

Growing up in the 60's and 70's, my generation vocalized and displayed a fervent desire to want to make a difference in the world. We were driven by passion, and we believed that our efforts could impact favorable changes. We had seemingly boundless amounts of energy which we directed to achieving our goals. It was a time when our ideals seemed attainable. It was a time when almost everyone wanted to grow up and become President of the United States. It was a time when families ate dinner together, and if you lived in our house, you took an interest in what went on in the world because families like mine expected that we came to the table with a discussion about a current event.

Today, things are different. Apathy, complacency and self absorption seem to be pervasive amongst teens. Kids today seem to be reared on the benefits of what the new technologically advanced world can do for them. In fact, President Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" seems to be slipping to a kind of rhetorical Sisyphean exercise that is often met with a "why should I care" attitude. There are, no doubt, many reasons for this malaise. I believe that there are also many ways in which we can help to rededicate our young people to the pursuit of ideals which will make the world we share a better place to live.

It is my hope that TeenSpeak Today for the Leaders of Tomorrow will imbue young people with a renewed interest and caring about the world around them. TeenSpeak provides teenagers with the opportunity to develop skills in journalism. Staff members will learn how to conduct different kinds of interviews and will be taught what elements constitute balanced reporting. Reporters will interview the people they admire the most, as well as other prominent exemplary leaders who represent every Œwalk of life,¹ seeing first hand, what works, what doesn¹t, and why.