The Missing Link: How Student Journalists Help Communities Fill Critical Information Gaps

Learn how PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs is rethinking the future of news by connecting middle and high school student journalists to their local news ecosystems.

From student journalists in Cody, Wyoming reporting on school walkouts and second amendment rights, to a teen journalist vlogging from voting polls in Wisconsin during the coronavirus pandemic, to a student’s personal narrative on life in China after the social distancing restrictions were lifted, students are poised now more than ever to report on the stories affecting their local communities.

As news deserts begin to grip rural communities, middle and high school students involved in journalism programs at their school have the opportunity to shed light on the issues affecting them and others, from mental health and climate change to local elections and education.

Hear from teen journalists in the Atlanta-area about the opportunities to reach and build trust with a new generation of media creators, and learn how local PBS stations are creating pathways for middle and high school students to become active participants of their local media landscape and reach authentic audiences.

Suggested Speaker(s)

  • Elis Estrada
    Senior Director, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs