The Student Reporting Labs project connects at-risk high school students with a network of mentors in public broadcasting who teach them to produce, shoot and edit their own news reports about how national issues affect their communities. Over a dozen public television stations have partnered with the project, providing support.
In classrooms and afterschool programs from Alaska to Texas, Reporting Labs students have created reports on topics such as:
- The Texas drought, as seen through four lenses: wildfires, water-use restrictions, impact on activities and the foundations of houses
- An Alaskan school’s outdoor classroom where teens can learn about ecosystems and environmental responsibility
- Science-related summer programs available to Chicago-area teens
- Causes, effects and containment methods for oil spills
- Coastal erosion in Louisiana
The Labs website also offers public resources for teachers, including lesson plans and worksheets to help teach the fundamentals of journalism such as “What is Newsworthy?” and “Interviewing: The Art of Asking Questions.”