For more than a month, the newsroom of ilNewyorkese was run by students.
The project, titled School of Record, involved students from La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi in New York, who took on the role of journalists and editors to produce a special issue of the publication from start to finish.
The initiative was designed as a real editorial experience rather than a classroom exercise. Students organized editorial meetings, selected topics, conducted interviews, and worked on editing and revisions before the issue went to print. The process exposed them to the responsibilities and discipline required in journalism.
The project was presented yesterday at Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at New York University during a public event that brought together members of the Italian community in New York, educators, journalists, and institutional representatives.
According to ilNewyorkese founder Davide Ippolito, the idea behind the project was to temporarily hand over the editorial space to students so they could describe their generation and reflect on what it means to grow up between Italian and American cultures.
The resulting publication reflects that perspective. The issue includes interviews with journalist Federico Rampini, Italian-American Congressman Christian Di Sanzo, and other figures connected to the Italian-American community.
Beyond the content itself, the process became the core of the experience. Students learned how to prepare interviews, verify information, collaborate within an editorial structure, and take responsibility for what they publish.
During the presentation event, many of them took the stage to describe the work behind the scenes and to discuss the themes they chose to explore in the issue.
The project also highlights the unique position of La Scuola d’Italia Guglielmo Marconi within New York’s educational landscape. The school offers both the Italian diploma and the International Baccalaureate through a bilingual curriculum that prepares students for higher education in both Europe and the United States.
The special issue ultimately became more than a publishing exercise. It offered students a chance to experiment with journalism while reflecting on identity, community, and the experience of growing up between two cultures.
