The curriculum of the optional class was approved by the Decree of the Ministry of Education of October 22, 2024, No. 129.

It is intended for grades VIII-IX of educational institutions implementing educational programs of general secondary education with Belarusian and Russian languages of instruction and upbringing. The program is aimed at familiarizing students with journalism as a special type of information and communication activity, analyzing its main components, and forming ideas about the practical activities of a journalist.

Schoolchildren will gain an understanding, in particular, of the basic skills of a journalist, professional and ethical principles of work in the profession. Attention will be paid to the behavior and appearance of representatives of this professional community. Kids will also learn about the functioning of the editorial office of the media. They will be told about the main genres of journalism, the rights and responsibilities of a journalist, the specifics of presenting audiovisual and textual information, etc.

During the training, schoolchildren will learn the basic provisions of the laws on mass media, advertising, copyright and related rights, and the Code of Professional Ethics of a Journalist. In addition, teenagers will learn how to obtain information, select it, critically analyze it, check the reliability of the data received and its sources, correctly and logically construct a journalistic text depending on its genre and target audience, and create publications for the media of their age group.

The legal act was adopted in accordance with the Education Code of Belarus. It shall come into force on October 30, 2024.