By Marina Hendricks

Once upon a time, The Suits at Charleston Newspapers decided to launch a section for teens. They researched the concept, created a prototype and met with local high school students to get their feedback -- and to learn more in general about teens, especially their expectations concerning news and information.

FlipSide, the source of all things teen, was launched at the beginning of the 1991-1992 school year. The first issue of this school year, which comes out Thursday, marks the start of FlipSide's 20th year of publication.

Students always have shaped the content and direction of FlipSide, beginning with the teens who attended those initial meetings in the summer of 1991. They gave an emphatic, collective thumbs down to the name initially proposed for the publication: Scoop.

"It sounds like ice cream," one said disdainfully.

They rose to the challenge of finding a new name, riffing on a list of alternatives until they came up with FlipSide. The precedent they set of teen input and involvement in FlipSide continues to this day.

Students write, take photographs and create illustrations for FlipSide. They suggest story ideas and act as sources for articles. As a result, FlipSide truly epitomizes the phrase "teen publication."

Wait a second -- make that program, not publication. In addition to the original monthly magazine distributed directly to high schools in several counties, FlipSide now includes a regular presence in the Saturday Gazette-Mail and on the web at www.wvflipside.com.

Given the rapid advancement of technology, who knows what form the FlipSide of the future will take?

Looking back, the logistics of producing FlipSide in the early years now seem as antiquated as working with quill pens and papyrus. While many correspondents were able to craft their stories on computers, some had to write them out by hand. Those with computer access were encouraged to save their work on floppy disks. Anything not on a disk had to be retyped once it arrived at the newspaper office.

Photos were taken on film and often had to be developed. Illustrations were mostly sketched by hand. Everything was mailed, faxed or dropped off at the newspaper office. Sometimes, the editor even drove to schools or homes to collect submissions.

The advent of the digital age marked a huge turning point for FlipSide. Not only could correspondents submit their work electronically, but they also could be reached easily when the editor had questions. Thus, a brand-new line of excuses for missing deadlines was born.

All kidding aside, perhaps the biggest revelation for the adult journalists who have nurtured FlipSide over the years has been its depth and diversity of content.

FlipSide correspondents have written honestly and eloquently about substance abuse, eating disorders, suicide, sexuality, depression, domestic violence, racism and many other weighty issues. They have explored politics and religion. They have debated everything from animal rights to the right to bear arms. And, of course, they have thoroughly dissected subjects such as prom, homecoming, graduation, sports, academia, fashion, music and pop culture.

Their efforts have been recognized with awards in both national and state contests. Several correspondents have earned fellowships to attend a national conference for newspaper professionals who oversee programs like FlipSide. Best of all, more than a few FlipSiders have moved on to full-fledged careers in journalism -- including current FlipSide editor, Amy Robinson, who served as a correspondent while attending St. Albans High School.

In addition to fostering quality youth coverage, FlipSide has provided area students with ways to get more involved in the community. These include a logo contest for Charleston's Smoke on the Water Chili Cook-off, which ran for several years, and an ongoing series of events at Charleston Town Center Mall courtesy of FlipSide's longtime partnership with the mall. FlipSide and CTC have teamed up for back-to-school blasts, prom fashion shows, a Space Camp experience, a "Twilight" promotion and many other fun events.

Quite a few accomplishments for a 20-year-old, don't you think?

FlipSide may no longer be a teen in years, but it was, is and forever will be teen at heart.

Marina Hendricks, the founding editor of FlipSide, is manager of the Newspaper Association of America Foundation in Arlington, Va.