NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION (NIE)
The New York Times set up the first formal Newspapers in Education (NIE) program in the 1930’s. The popular program soon spread across the country.
Thank you to our 2025-26 NIE Sponsor!
Reading an “adult medium” like newspapers challenges students to develop reading, speaking and critical thinking skills.
We are some of only a few papers in Maine to participate in the NIE program.
Teachers have attributed lengthened attention span, better reading comprehension and renewed interest in regular classroom work to using newspapers in the classroom — and students find learning from the newspaper fun!
Through our NIE program, students and teachers throughout Knox and Waldo Counties have classroom access each week to the print and digital editions. Students can certainly relate to the detailed school news and sports coverage; the feature stories tell of interesting people and activities in and around the communities the students live in, and in-depth coverage of local municipal governments teaches civics at a local level that will inspire civic engagement and citizenship among the students.
Thanks to the generosity of our subscribers and business sponsor, we are able to provide digital or print subscriptions to The Midcoast Villager free of charge for Knox and Waldo County teachers who request them for classroom use.
Enroll anytime.
Knox / Waldo counties NIE school delivery will begin Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The last paper will be delivered on June 3, 2027
A curriculum employing Newspapers in Education is like having an updated real-time living history book every week.
Suggested Classroom Activities
Newspapers can help children learn even the basics. We’ve included here a mix of such activities, from those that deal with basic reading and mathematics skills to those addressing critical thinking about the world around us. Several activities would work on several grade levels or even at home.
NIE would not be possible without the generous underwriting of our business sponsor and subscribers who understand and appreciate the educational value of this program.
Help us continue to provide newspapers to our area schools
Business Sponsors
Midcoast Villager advertisers and businesses in Waldo and Knox Counties please email [email protected].
We'd love to hear about your experience with NIE
Thank you!