A practicum was designed to improve the reading growth and achievement of 60 eighth-grade students who were one or more years behind grade level by utilizing CNN Newsroom and the "USA Today" newspaper as an integral part of the reading program. Pre- and posttests were administered to measure outcomes. The six areas measured were: (1) word meaning; (2) supporting ideas; (3) summarizing; (4) relationships and outcomes; (5) inferences and generalizations; and (6) point of view, propaganda, and fact/nonfact. In addition to CNN Newsroom and the "USA Today" newspaper, the reading program included Reader's Workshop whereby students read self-selected literature, and Reader's Theater. Analysis of data revealed positive results utilizing CNN Newsroom and the "USA Today" newspaper. Of the 60 students, 34 showed reading gains in two or more reading areas. CNN Newsroom and "USA Today" met the needs of many students. (Contains 27 references and two tables of data; reading assignment sheets, sustained silent reading forms, scoring sheets, and reading inventory are attached.) (Author/RS)