Kennesaw State Puts Juvenile Justice Issues in National Spotlight

The Investigative News Network announced this week the addition of Juvenile Justice Information Exchange to its consortium of more than 60 news organizations across North America.

As an initiative of Kennesaw State's Center for Sustainable Journalism, JJIE.org is a news source and conversation hub for juvenile justice and the related areas of child welfare, mental health and public education, according to a press release from INN.

“We are excited about having JJIE and Kennesaw State University as part of the network,” said Kevin Davis, CEO and Executive Director of INN. “Juvenile justice issues are chronically underreported by the mainstream media and we are delighted to help bring high quality and persistent coverage of this important area.”

JJIE.org, which launched in September of 2010, focuses on a number of youth justice issues. Featured stories include a series on heroin addiction, the journey of a transgender man and a set of New Year's resolutions from teens in juvenile drug court.

“Joining the INN collaboration is a logical step in the JJIE.org’s movement into a national news organization covering youth justice issues,” said Executive Director Leonard Witt in the release.

“Of course, we will be exchanging stories with INN organizations coast to coast and editor John Fleming is planning cooperative reporting and investigative journalism projects with interested INN members,” Witt said. “We are confident everyone will prosper by this relationship.”

INN was founded in 2009 and is composed of nonprofit organizations that produce nonpartisan investigative and public service journalism on a local, regional and national basis, said the release.

For more information about the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, visit their website and Facebook page.