Though he's brand-new to journalism, Elias Snyder-Fall, the Neighborhood Tattler's "editor-in-cheif [sic]", knows how to hook his readers.
"Oh no, the COVID-19, we can't go close to each other?! At least 6 feet ... " Snyder-Fall wrote in the first edition of the Tattler, which covers one block of Minneapolis' Fulton neighborhood.
As his barely legible handwriting neared the bottom of the page, Snyder-Fall deployed a real cliffhanger: "Elias was outside getting news for this newspaper, but he didn't notice it started raining! A giant branch fell on the S.F.'s house!!!"
The Tattler, which debuted in March, is among many new neighborhood newspapers produced by kids who have a little extra time on their hands. With schools closed and activities canceled, there's hardly been a better time to self-publish.
Some youth-produced papers feature crudely scrawled stories and stick-figure comics, while others are neatly typeset (often with help from grown-ups) in newspaper templates, accompanied by photos and clip art. Some publications trade strictly in fact. Others are pure fantasy.
But no matter their angle or aesthetic, these papers have been day-brighteners for many homebound neighbors. Some wait by the mailbox for the next delivery. Others hand over 20 bucks and request a subscription.
Kid-made papers aren't just informative or entertaining, but a source of community camaraderie. While the big metro dailies may dominate in the depth and breadth of coverage, they don't stand a chance when it comes to the cute factor.
