Letter explaining NIE-literacy entry

The First Take educational supplement, published April 2, 2011 and distributed with the general run of the paper, is the product of the Acel Moore Career Development Workshop.

This annual community outreach program was launched 28 years ago by The Inquirer, which continues to sponsor it. The program seeks to give Philadelphia-area high school students an introduction into the field of print and digital journalism.

In an attempt to promote interest in newspapers and a career in the industry, Inquirer editors and staff volunteers teach workshop participants reporting, writing, editing and photography and help them develop multimedia skills as well. The students then write, edit and produce their own newspaper, First Take, which is also posted online.

Throughout the four-week program, staffers drive home the point to participants that the newspaper is a valuable resource in their education.

The workshop has benefited more than 200 area youngsters and has served as a gateway into the profession for many of them. Many more have gone on to successful careers in other fields of endeavors.

Acel Moore, an associate editor emeritus of The Inquirer and a Pulitzer Prize winner, in August, 2011 won the lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Black Journalists for his dedication to encouraging minority youth to pursue careers in journalism.