Business Partnership
High School Page Partnership Continues Throughout Central Florida BY DEVIN HEFLIN CENTRAL FLORIDA –The Orlando Times newspaper, founded in July 1976 by Dr. Calvin Collins, Jr., is the premier community newspaper in Central Florida, spanning the counties of Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake County. For forty years, The Orlando Times team has reported on investigative, political and community news, often tailoring the toughest questions to gain fair responses for the community. Our editorial staff looks forward to working with each high school that has agreed to participate in this year’s High School Page Placement program, and we would like to thank you for your participation. We take this time as well to give a Special Thank you to our partners, whose contributions to the circulation of newspapers throughout sixty schools in Central Florida has greatly extended the readership demographic of school age youth to The Orlando Times newspaper, introducing the publication to newer generations. It’s this unique partnership with the Central Florida business community that continues to increase The Orlando Times circulation annually. Business owners that partner with The Orlando Times also have the opportunity to publish stories on their career experiences, which inspire students. These partners, both past and present, have made it possible for our newspaper to wield its immense school circulation. The staff also takes this time to thank the various county school systems that have assisted in distributing the community profiles published in The Orlando Times newspaper. Content presented courtesy of The Orlando Times has been used as relevant, subject oriented material in the classroom. Also, we give thanks to our religious partners, who continue to produce sermons and the latest news regarding their congregations’ events on a weekly basis in The Orlando Times newspaper. It’s rare that newspapers give students a chance to showcase their talents, yet what’s kept The Orlando Times newspaper as the number one voice of the community is this act of rarity. The High School Page Placement Program, started by The Orlando Times in the year 2000, is a program where The Orlando Times newspaper partners with high schools throughout Central Florida, and students are able to produce pages that will be featured in The Orlando Times newspaper on a weekly basis. This program began as an outgrowth of the Partnership of Education program. The Orlando Times Publisher, Dr. Calvin Collins, Jr., worked with the school boards, specifically Orange and Seminole Counties to begin the program. Because of budget constraints, school boards were unable to financially support the program. However, the business community sponsored the circulation of newspapers into Central Florida High Schools through Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake Counties. Through their support, the business support became the Partners of Education program, which continues to today. Dr. Barbara Jenkins, Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, thinks highly of the program as well. “I think it’s wonderful that high school students have an opportunity to gain experience in the field of media.” She said. “Being a participant of the High School Page Placement Program is beneficial in many ways. Our school, our students and our community benefit from the partnership.” Said Richard Stokes, journalism teacher at East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida, who participated last year. “Students often times enter a Journalism elective with no expectations of the program. The structure of the class and the work we do with The Orlando Times affords us the opportunity to expose students to real-time journalism expectations from inception to finished product.” The Orlando Times newspaper is the only weekly publication that provides this opportunity and partnership to High Schools. “We are very thankful and pleased that The Orlando Times provides a unique forum for our students to showcase the many amazing events and programs taking place at their schools.” said Dr. Walt Griffin, Superintendent of Seminole County Public Schools. With the valued partnership of schools, sponsors and the community, The Orlando Times newspaper will continue to take the opportunity to give the opportunity to student.