The future of journalism may be cloudy, but spending a few hours with Hawai'i's high school newspapers brightens the forecast considerably.

Every year since 1970, The Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin have sponsored the Hawai'i High School Journalism Awards and this year the students did another terrific job, chronicling what's important to them: campus thefts, overactive Internet use, truancy, stress over final exams, dress policy, class schedules, all-nighters, excessive homework, dating, drug use and the impact of No Child Left Behind requirements on their schools.

Looking at these stories, photographs, illustrations and editorials, it's inspiring to know that students are still interested in the craft of gathering and distributing the news.

'Iolani student Keyana Stevens criticized the school's Performing Arts Department for using professional musicians to help the student orchestra during the school's drama production of "The Wiz." Katie Amberg-Johnson and Will Pelleteri of Le Jardin Academy spoke out about the school administration trying to censor their school newspaper, the Contender. Kelsey Fortey of Lahainaluna High took on the Board of Education for failing to provide properly functioning water fountains. There were also positive stories about teachers and students who made an impact.

But all is not perfect.

At last week's awards competition, now co-sponsored by the Hawai'i Publishers Association, some of the journalism advisers were talking about how difficult it was to keep running their newspapers, given the funding constraints they face and the lack of interest at some schools from students who have a hard time relating to newspapers.

Less than half of the 82 high schools in Hawai'i maintain a campus newspaper and only three have online sites. That number is likely to shrink in coming years as schools grapple with how to spend their limited funding. One adviser said, "It's hard for me to justify $6,000 a year for our newspaper when the English department is only getting $1,000."

On the Big Island, Kohala High School's Ka Leo Na Opio ("The Voice of the Youth") is ceasing production after 42 years. The newspaper's adviser, Colleen Pasco, who has been running the newspaper for the past 18 years, said students today are busy just meeting their math and science requirements, not to mention working in jobs after school to earn money. Few have the inclination for electives that take up so much time.

"This paper is their paper and when they sit and complain about something at the school, I ask them to write an article," she said. "We've gotten strong dialogue over the years."

Selfishly, it is the best interest of local newspapers to keep young people interested in pursuing journalism and current events. Toward that end, we have created a new online forum called "OurTurn" that's run by our editorial page and includes not only editorials from high school papers but other opinions from young people. See www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ourturn for a look at the first few efforts.

Also, we are ramping up for our next Teen Editorial Board, which allows participants to debate and discuss their pressing concerns while hearing perspectives from community newsmakers. To apply, send an e-mail to our editorial page assistant, Stacy Berry, at sberry@honoluluadvertiser.com and include your name, phone number, address, high school and grade level, as well as a paragraph about why you would like to join the board, which will be selected this summer.

I spoke to Pasco at Kohala High last week and asked if there was any chance of saving Ka Leo Na Opio. She said she was considering a before-school program if she could get enough students. That would mean her work day would start at 7:15 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. She sounded tired just talking about it, but I could tell her resolve is strong.

"If I move forward and keep this going, our paper just might make it 50 years," she said. "We need to keep it going."

Mark Platte is senior vice president/editor of The Advertiser.