Major NYC Stories: NYC features cover stories on suburban schools, welfare, girls' issues, the new CUNY policy on remedial classes, and teens with parents in prison.

Adult Controversy, Teen Perspective: The adult media often neglect to include a youth perspective on issues that affect them. In "Using the 'N' Word (Nappy): Parents Get Heated When a White Teacher Talks About Race" (Jan./Feb. 1999), Yahminah McDonald examines, from a teen's point of view, the controversy surrounding a white New York City teacher who used a book in class that some parents felt was offensive to Blacks.

Welfare, Close Up: Welfare is another topic rarely written about from the perspective of those who are most affected by its reform. In "One Day in a Welfare Office" (Jan./Feb. 1999), Diana Moreno, whose family is on public assistance, chronicles the chaos and despair confronting participants in the new workfare program.

American Ambiguity: Cultural identity issues are crucial in the lives of teens, and Youth Communication writers have always explored them from a multitude of perspectives. Two notable examples were published in 98/99. In "Red, White and Blue on Eastern Parkway: I'm Black and Proud to Be American" (Jan./Feb. 1999), Angela Randolph explores the conflicted emotions she experiences when she is criticized by fellow Blacks for carrying an American flag during a neighborhood parade. Chinese immigrant Diana Zhang, in "Lost in America: My Family and I Have Paid a Price for Prosperity" (May/June 1999), questions her family's pursuit of the American dream, which has brought material comfort, but at the expense of her overworked parents' health and loss of cultural identity (March 1999).

It's a Girls' World: To mark Women's History Month, the Girls Writing Group produces "Girl World," a special supplement to NYC (March 1999). Articles include "She Got Game" (about a female high school basketball player), "A Bad Ride" (a young woman's account of having unprotected sex and contracting chlamydia), "Fashion Un-Conscious" (about a junior high school girl who gets tormented by her classmates for not wearing the latest brand name clothes) and "Ready for Mr. Right" (the story of a young woman who decides to be more demanding about what she wants from her relationships with guys).

Major FCYU Stories: FCYU features stories on foster youth who ended up homeless after discharge, youth and guns, teen mothers in foster care, sexual abuse, job hunting, as well as personal stories on the merits of group homes, foster homes, and kinship care.

Where's Home?: In "Where Do You Want to be Placed?" (Sept./Oct. 1998), FCYU writers interview foster youth on New York City's controversial plan to place kids in care in their original neighborhoods.

Spotlight on Gangs: FCYU writer Tara Bonaparte, in "It's Gang-Related" (Nov./Dec. 1998), interviews teen members of the Latin Kings, Bloods, and Las Familias, several of whom were in foster care, and describes her own encounter with gang activity.

Lucky to Be Alive: In "Riding a Horse Named Flashback" (Nov./Dec. 1998), Matthew Dedewo gives a powerful account of almost losing his life when he intervenes as a Good Samaritan to prevent a murder.

Teen Staff Profiles: Baudilio Lozado, a veteran FCYU writer, attains the highest GED score in New York City for his test-taking cohort. Giselle John, another long-time FCYU writer, wins a one-year Public Allies Fellowship, which enables her to learn about New York City and develop leadership skills while working with the East New York Development Corporation. Jamal Greene is hired as a sportswriter for Sports Illustrated upon graduation from college. He had previously interned at SI for Kids.

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