The net result, the published article, achieves many goals. It not only illuminates what can be accomplished on a personal level, but each teenage staff reporter¹s article shares new insights with their peers, and in so doing, helps to establish the very foundation for the leaders of tomorrow.

In addition to our newspaper, TeenSpeak¹s non-profit parent company, Institute for Young Journalists will offer a lecture series with prominent journalists, celebrities, and select members of the media who will enlighten teenage audiences about many aspects that affect and effect the coverage of events. Our first event is December 17th and will feature the Deputy Director for The Project for Excellence in Journalism, Mr. Carl Gottlieb who will conduct a focus group forum on what constitutes a balanced television news segment. An affiliate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, the Project for Excellence in Journalism recently published a study that evaluated the quality of 59 local TV news stations in 19 cities across the country. They then compared the results of their data with the ratings these same stations had achieved. While the size of this first student participation lecture demands a small group, we would like to extend invitation to all high school students for other speakers in the future.

TeenSpeak has always been a back-burner dream that was pushed forward earlier this fall by the urging of so many wonderful friends. This dream may not have become a reality so quickly had I not had the good fortune to achieve the backing of the Pincus family (Marks Brothers Stationers) who have demonstrated their enthusiasm in so many ways, and have most importantly provided TeenSpeak with a ³home² for our staff meetings. Additionally, TeenSpeak is extremely grateful to Competition BMW which has demonstrated its belief in our mission. I would also like to express my thanks to all of my wonderful friends who have been excited about TeenSpeak and have contributed in various ways to the goals of this project.

Finally, I would like to thank my amazing husband, Jeff. He has not only attended to all of the legal processes of establishing a non-profit organization status, helped me to edit this publication, but has more importantly been my constant, loving partner in this endeavor, offering up a wellspring of encouragement, support and enthusiasm. To all of you who share my vision for TeenSpeak Today for the Leaders of Tomorrow you are responsible for making this Volume 1, Issue 1 and the thousands that will follow possible for the leaders of tomorrow.