© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

release dates: September 12-18 37-1 (09)

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

You may read or hear reports in newspapers, on television or online about our government. The news media, or different news sources, have reporters who research and follow what our leaders are doing. We celebrate Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, along with Citizenship Day on Sept. 17. In 1787, 12 states voted in favor of the proposed U.S. Constitution. This document, approved in 1789, is a set of basic laws that organizes our government. This week, The Mini Page looks at the First Amendment and why news coverage about government is so important to citizens.

The First Amendment In 1791, the Constitution was amended, or changed, with the Bill of Rights. These first 10 amendments added some important ideas to the laws of the country. The First Amendment reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

What does it mean?    • Freedom of religion: Congress cannot pass a law setting up a religion that everyone must follow. You are free to worship as you please.    • Freedom of speech: You are free to speak out and give your side of things. Others are free to listen. However, there are some limits. You can’t shout “fire” in a crowded room when there is no fire.    • Freedom of the press: Members of the press do not have to get what they are planning to print or say approved by the government beforehand. They are free to print what they wish as long as it is not a deliberate lie.    • Freedom of assembly: You are free to meet peacefully.    • Freedom of petition: You are free to ask the government to correct things that you think are wrong.

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This painting by Howard Chandler Christy is called “Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States.” It shows George Washington standing on the small stage. Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison are directly in front of him.The signing took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

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from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

37-2 (09); release dates: September 12-18®

America’s first paper About 100 years before the Constitution was approved, the first newspaper in America was published in Boston in 1690. It was called Publick Occurrences Both Foreign (in other countries) and Domestick (at home). However, the governor and council didn’t approve of the three-page newspaper. They said Publick Occurrences could not publish without permission from the government. It was closed after just one edition.Ben Franklin’s paper

Benjamin Franklin began publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette in about 1730. However, this early newspaper didn’t have much

news. Instead it was filled with funny writing and essays, along with ads.

Why a free press? Our country’s Founding Fathers included freedom of the press in the Bill of Rights with citizens in mind. They wanted journalists to be parallel, or even with, members of the government. This way, the media could keep an eye on what government was doing and report it to the people.Protecting people and laws In the early 1900s, “watchdog journalism”* became more common. Magazines and newspapers looked at problems with city governments and with industries such as railroads and food processing. The problems they discovered often led to new laws. For example, laws were passed to make factories safer for workers. Others allowed more people to participate in government.

*Journalism is gathering and producing news and other reports for media.

Early Newspapers

Colonial news In the 1700s, newspapers were more like newsletters or essays. They were not very balanced. Instead, the writers were partisan, or loyal to one side or another. These early papers were called “revolutionary tracts.” The writing in papers of the 1700s and early 1800s often attacked members of rival, or competing, groups. But the papers were popular. More than 200 newspapers were published in the U.S. by 1800.

Ready Resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Words that remind us of the news are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: MEDIA, CITIZENSHIP, NEWSPAPER, CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT, FREEDOM, BEAT, PARTISAN, TRUST, WATCHDOG, JOURNALISM, TELEVISION, READ, INTERNET, BLOG, OPINION, CONSUMER, REPORT.

News You Can UsetRy ’nfind

Be your own news watchdog!

P I H S N E Z I T I C B L O G A M E N D M E N T S U R T Q R R H T E N R E T N I B E A T E T E J C O J O U R N A L I S M I A A L I Z G O D H C T A W U S I V D N M O D E E R F X B S A D N O I S I V E L E T P G N N E W S P A P E R E P O R T O J M K N O I T U T I T S N O C

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Basset Brown

the news

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The Mini Page provides ideas for Web sites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.

On the Web:• www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/kidspost/orbit/kidspost.html• www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/nick_news/• www.newseum.org/newsmania/

At the library:• “The Young Journalist’s Book: How to Write and Produce

Your Own Newspaper” by Nancy Bentley• “Stop the Presses, Nellie’s Got a Scoop!: A Story of Nellie Bly”

by Robert M. Quackenbush

® 37-3 (09); release dates: September 12-18

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeCreamy Fruit Salad

You’ll need:• 1/2 cup chopped strawberries• 1/2 cup blueberries• 1/2 cup halved green grapes• 1 small (3-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained• 1 tablespoon honey• 1 cup whipped toppingWhat to do:1. Combine strawberries, blueberries, grapes and oranges in a medium

bowl.2. Add honey and mix well.3. Add the whipped topping by gently folding the fruit over the topping

until well mixed.4. Refrigerate and serve chilled. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

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from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Meet Carter and Austin Carter Jenkins stars as Tom Pearson and Austin Butler stars as Jake Pearson in the movie “Aliens in the Attic.” Carter, 18, was born in Tampa, Fla. He began performing in his community theater when he was 7. He then appeared in commercials. He has been in

several TV shows and movies, including “Bad News Bears.” He enjoys baseball, basketball and football. Austin, 18, was born in Anaheim, Calif. He has appeared in several TV shows, including “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” “Zoey 101” and “iCarly.” He also has acted in commercials. He enjoys playing the guitar and piano.

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and her friends are saying the Pledge of Allegiance. See if you can find: • coffeepot • number 7 • man in the moon • key • bell • word MINI • number 3 • three cats • pencil • kite • ruler • book • letter A • safety pin • sailboat • caterpillar • tooth • heart • doughnut • sock • letter E

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

Baldwin: What did the father buffalo say when it started to get cloudy? Baker: “Bye, sun”!

Barnard: What event do buffaloes recognize every 200 years?

Bambi: The bisontennial!

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Ballard: What is the opposite of a buffalo?Bailey: A buffa-high!

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Austin Butler (left) and Carter Jenkins

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The Mini Page’s popular series of issues about each state is collected here in a 156-page softcover book. Conveniently spiral-bound for ease of use, this invaluable resource contains A-to-Z facts about each state, along with the District of Columbia. Illustrated with colorful photographs and art, and complete with updated information, The Mini Page Book of States will be a favorite in classrooms and homes for years to come.

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To order, send $15.99 ($19.99 Canada) plus $5 postage and handling for each copy. Make check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to Universal Press Syndicate. Send to The Mini Page Book of States, Universal Press Syndicate, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Or call toll-free 800-591-2097 or go to www.smartwarehousing.com. Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Book of States (Item #0-7407-8549-4) at $20.99 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.)Name: _____________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________City: ______________________________________________State: __________________________ Zip: ________________

The Mini Page® Book of States

from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

37-4 (09); release dates: September 12-18®

How is news reported? Over the years, newspapers, radio, television, the Internet and other media have become important tools for people to find out what government is up to. Reporters for news agencies are usually assigned a beat, or a regular subject area to follow. For example, Jack Journalist might be assigned to cover city government. Jack starts by building trust between himself and people in city government. He spends a lot of time at city hall. Soon, the mayor and his staff see that Jack is a good reporter. They share information with Jack that he can use to develop stories about city government. Jack can also compare what is going on in the city with the campaign promises of the mayor and others. He can study other cities that have similar problems. A beat reporter also learns how to look at records that are available to the public. These might include reports of money that was given to a candidate for office or rulings from the courts.

Citizen journalism A new type of reporting is called citizen journalism. This includes blogs and Web sites that are

written by individual people, rather than news organizations. Experts say blogs are a lot like the tracts that people distributed during the early days of the United States. They are mostly opinion, or what the writer thinks about a certain subject. But a few blogs have been able to uncover interesting stories before traditional media found out about them.

Be a Smart News Consumer

What is trust? It’s important for consumers, or users, of the news to decide whom they trust. What does trust mean? If you trust someone, it means you are confident that you can count on that person to be fair and honest. You can also trust a company or an organization.Variety is important Experts suggest that just as eating a variety of foods is important, kids and adults should look at different media for news about government. If you’re interested in a certain news story, you could search on Google News to see how different media organizations cover the subject. Consumers should not just read or watch the news. They should think about how it’s presented. Examining the news today will help you become a better news consumer as you get older.

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The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large    Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor    Lucy Lien - Associate Editor    Wendy Daley - Artist

Choose your news Today, we have many ways to follow the news. Some families get a newspaper delivered to their home every day or every week. Others may read local newspapers on the Internet. National newspapers, such as USA Today, give an overview of news all across the country. You and your family might watch the local news on television. The major TV networks also have news shows in the morning and evening.

Next week, The Mini Page learns all about punctuation.

The Mini Page thanks James Hamilton, director of the Dewitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy and professor at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University; and David Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for help with this issue.

Almost 30 years ago, a cable TV channel began offering news about government and other subjects 24 hours a day. Today, CNN and other news channels such as FOX News and MSNBC give us instant news updates.