What age/grade does “Birth of the First Amendment” target?
This innovative graphic novel will be the core of a curriculum that will be available online for grades 5-8 (First Amendment Heroes) and high school (Speak Your Truth) created in collaboration with educators at both elementary, high school and colleges to scaffold information and experiences at each level.
How can I purchase a copy of “Birth of the First Amendment”?
“Birth of The First Amendment” will be printed on demand, sold and distributed through IngramSpark’s global printing and E-book distribution system of 39,000 retailers, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Preorders will be available in summer 2019.
Prices will be $20 paperback $30 hardcover for the 8.5 x 11 sized graphic novel.
How will BOTFA impact media education?
“Birth of the First Amendment” will:
- Empower students to create media in a responsible way for a community audience to use their ideas and diverse perspectives in a responsible, innovative way in a journalistic format.
- Support those current First Amendment Heroes among young journalists (New Voices) through GMP website, social media, print and multimedia productions.
- Provide a forum through the GMP website for those middle and high school students without journalism or media literacy classes or opportunities through media creation experiences to create classroom projects for project based learning in an interdisciplinary program meeting language arts, media literacy, digital design, social studies and STEM standards.
- Develop mentor and internship programs for high school and college students at Griffin Media and Publishing – conducting “Speak Your Truth” sessions, creating multimedia reports, blogs and print projects, including books for GMP and our clients.
How will BOTFA be marketed?
- IngramSpark will send its catalog to its more than 39,000 retailers, libraries, schools and universities—online and in stores
- Safe, fast, and reliable direct shipping and global delivery
- I will personally be working with Imperative!Company marketing services to send send “birth announcements” to bookstores, libraries, schools, after school programs, colleges and universities, civic organizations and traditional media throughout the country.
- I will leverage my membership in national organizations such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), a network of published authors, many who are teachers, editors, agents, civic organizations, Journalism Education Association (JEA). I can provide sessions at the national NSPA and JEA spring and fall conventions, book signings and author events. Speak Your Truth events can be organized in communities across the country.
- With interns and our partners, we will have an ongoing social media campaign, Kickstarter and regular e-newsletters.
How can college journalists could gain from the publication?
The story of John Peter Zenger is a little-known aspect of American history that is especially relevant to the ever-evolving landscape of news, media and the First Amendment, especially among young people at both the secondary and university levels. The innovative graphic novel is written in a journalistic format bringing to life the truly American story of one “poor printer” standing up to a corrupt government. In another aspect of hidden history, Zenger’s wife Anna keeps both home, children and business running and becomes the first woman printer and publisher in the colonies.
College students are able to apply for mentorship and internship programs at Griffin Media and Publishing
College student interns will conduct “Speak Your Truth” sessions, create multimedia reports, blogs and print projects, including books for GMP and our clients. Griffin Media will empower college students as mentors to middle and high schools, and through media creation, inform the community from diverse perspectives.
Qualifying interns will have key roles in creating future books in the “In the Moment” series and give them a chance to gain 21st-century skills in a business environment that will prepare them for future employment.
This internship could be a part of a topics class for a university partner. Donna Griffin, author of “Birth of the First Amendment” served as a college media adviser and has worked with young people for nearly two decades, empowering them to be leaders and collaborators throughout her teaching career.
