Straight Talk: The Voice of Adolescents and Youth - Occasional Paper No. 2

Straight Talk is an adolescent newspaper that focuses upon sexuality and reproductive health. It has an unbroken monthly print run that has endured for 8 years, during which time it has established an enviable reputation. The newspaper is run by an adolescent editorial board that consists of 8 part-time adolescents (4 males, 4 females) who rotate on a 3 month basis, 3 full-time staff, 1 part-time cartoonist, 1 part-time medical doctor and 1 part-time researcher. The role of the adolescent editorial board is to control and direct the content and production of the newspaper. Each member of the board has equal rights and nobody has the power of veto.

From the introduction

"This paper introduces a concept for changing behaviour that integrates communication channels and encourages adolescents to participate. The concept centres around an Adolescent Editorial Board (AEB) that directs and controls the programme."

This paper is no longer available online. Please contact the Straight Talk Foundation for more information.