The PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) is a project-based learning program focused on multi-media storytelling, community journalism and civic engagement. 

The program connects middle- and high-school students with a network of public broadcasting mentors and an innovative journalism curriculum. Students work with mentors to develop digital media, critical thinking, and communication skills while producing original news reports. 

Now in more than 160 middle schools and high schools, Student Reporting Labs is a national youth journalism program and public media initiative that trains teenagers across the country to produce stories that highlight the achievements, challenges, and reality of today’s youth. The program creates transformative educational experiences through video journalism that inspire students to find their voice and engage in their communities.

How it works: 
Teachers and students can get started right away using the using PBS's StoryMaker platform for sharing and submitting stories. Info on how to set up Storymaker. See below for links to free curriculum.

Idaho teachers, contact Idaho Public Television to set up a online or in-person information session on resources and mentorship from local producers and PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab producers.

Producers can work with students on story pitches, script-writing, narration, rough cuts, and final videos; however, it's not required and classes can customize their level of involvement to suit their needs.

Students' stories are published on the website, shared on social media, and distributed through partnerships; select projects are aired on local PBS stations and PBS NewsHour nightly broadcasts.

Allison Pope, of Rexburg, Idaho, was a producer and advisor on the PBS NewsHour On Our Minds podcast covering Elections 2024. She shares a favorite project on Instagram.

Idaho student journalism:

• Episode 4: Why Do We Have an Electoral College? On Our Minds: Elections 2024 Podcast
• Palestinian-American reflects on the war she left behind
• Students React to News about #Coronavirus
• Exploring the Economic Impact of COVID-19
• Madison High School, Rexburg, Idaho
   

Summer Academy Fellows:

• Allison Pope, 2023; 2023-24 PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Student Advisory Team to guide SRL’s editorial coverage
• Ruby Barrus, 2021
• Grace Gibbs, 2020

From Idaho teachers and students:

“The experience has been incredible. I went to Washington, D.C., for three days to learn from PBS and SRL people. They even donated equipment to our program to make sure we were up and running. I would absolutely recommend other teachers get involved with SRL. The curriculum alone is top notch and so easy to use, but the contacts that students and I have made is something that we wouldn't have had without SRL.”

—Nichole Sanford, teacher, Madison High School, Rexburg, Idaho
 

“My favorite part of working with SRL was getting to know people my age from other parts of the country. The other students I worked with were so nice, and they gave a lot of great advice that helped me in the story making process. Working on my first project was super fun! I loved getting to learn about the topic I was reporting. A lot of the journalism process was new to me, and I had to learn how to edit a video and do voice over. I would definitely recommend SRL to other high school students. It is a super fun way to interact with your community and school. Participating in SRL projects is a great way to put your two cents into national issues as well.”

—Ruby Barrus, student and SRL journalist, Madison High School, Rexburg, Idaho

Free SRL lesson plans, assignment prompts, and instruction tools facilitate project-based learning that builds critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills. Teachers are connected to their local PBS station and journalism mentors within the community. 

Youth Media Challenge provides curriculum and student challenges. 

SRL professional development workshops prepare educators for this work, and the SRL Academy brings together students from around the country to hone their skills and advance the future of journalism and public media.

NOVA Science Studio (funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting) is a program that empowers students with the skills to tell engaging stories about science through short-form video. The NOVA Science Studio provides educational resources to teach science journalism and communication to high school teens aged 14-18.

NOVA Science Studio provides teens with agency to participate in the creation of programming that features their voices and creative input, addresses digital media literacy issues facing students, and encourages the development of lifelong skills through the video production and reporting skills taught through the program. 

Starting in fall 2023, schools can sign up to participate in and access the NOVA Science Studio curriculum directly in the PBS LearningMedia platform. NOVA will provide video production templates, resources, and guidelines for student videos.

NOVA Science Studio tutorial videos for students.

On Our Minds is an Edward R. Murrow award-winning, student-led and student-produced podcast about the biggest mental health challenges young people face. In each episode, two teen reporters guide you through stories by high schoolers from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs about the teenage experience that connects, educates and inspires listeners of all ages.

Teacher Reporting Labs (TRL) is a teacher-led podcast where educators report back on a mix of topics, triumphs and challenges they face in the classroom through exploratory and candid conversations.

Idaho Public Television periodically hosts video contests for Idaho students ages 12-18, including those in conjection with the KNOW VAPE anti-vaping campaign and the campaign for Welcome to the Unaltered State: Idahoans for Substance-Free Futures. 

Questions?
For more information on participating in PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, contact Jessica Solberg, Associate Producer, Children's Media and Education, 
or use our contact form below.