Illinois 12-year-old starts paper, joins press group

Keith Davis, 12, of rural Annawan, Ill., population about 900, began publishing his own newspaper almost two and a half years ago, and is now an accredited member of the Illinois Press Association. In addition to the print edition of his newspaper, The Annawan Times, Davis designed and operates Annawantimes.com, reports Rocky Stuffelbeam of the Star Courier in Kewanee. Davis runs the entire production from his home computer. In April he was named an honorary member of the IPA.

"We were intrigued by his inquiry about membership in our organization," David Porter, communications and marketing director for the IPA, told Stuffelbeam. "To be honest, we really had no category for him, but we did not want to discourage him. We looked at what he is doing and felt any young person pursuing journalism should be encouraged. We felt strongly he should be recognized for his effort and service to his community." Davis said his newspaper "is eight pages pretty much every week and includes Annawan news, events, advertising, weather, puzzles (yes, Sudoku), a comic strip and anything else that strikes the 12-year-old’s fancy," Stuffelbeam writes. The newspaper is distributed at the local IGA and has three subscribers. Annawan is on Interstate 80 in Northern Illinois. (Read more)