The Mini Page facts for kids

The Mini Page was a special part of the newspaper made just for kids! It was created by Betty Debnam in 1969. This fun section was sent out to many different newspapers across the country, so lots of children could read it. Betty Debnam and two other writers worked hard to create all the interesting stories and activities you could find in it.

Betty Debnam: The Creator

Betty Debnam was the amazing person who came up with the idea for The Mini Page. She was inspired by her own family, especially her grandmother, who ran a small newspaper in a town called Snow Hill, North Carolina. Her grandfather also helped with the newspaper and was a school superintendent. Betty's father was a newspaper reporter too, in Norfolk, Virginia. It seems like making newspapers was in her family's blood! Betty Debnam passed away on November 1, 2020.

Awards and Recognition

Betty Debnam and The Mini Page received many important awards over the years.

Celebrating 30 Years

In 1999, when The Mini Page turned 30 years old, Betty Debnam was honored in a big way. She was added to the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame. This is a special place for people who have done great things in journalism in North Carolina. She also received the very first Lifetime Achievement Award from the Newspaper Association of America, which is a big group for newspapers.

More Honors

Betty Debnam continued to be recognized for her work. In 2001, she was inducted into the Association of Educational Publishers' hall of fame. This group celebrates people who create great educational materials. Later, in 2013, she was also added to the Raleigh Hall of Fame.

Special Projects

In 2007, Betty won another award from the Association of Educational Publishers. This was for a special series called The Mini Page Guide to the Constitution. This series helped kids learn about the United States Constitution. It was so popular that it was later turned into a book!