PBS internships help build bridges from high school to media career

Student Reporting Labs journalists with internships at their local PBS stations spent their summer breaks out in the field producing stories and honing professional media skills.

Jordan Brown, a rising senior at Cedar Crest High School, contributed to WITF’s campaign coverage by photographing a Trump rally at a nearby high school, producing for social media and helping broadcast via Facebook Live.

Jordan also produced a story on the 15th anniversary of September 11. WITF is located roughly two hours away from Shanksville, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed. His story focuses on how young people his age might not feel connected to the events of 9/11 and how parents and teachers are trying to educate the next generation.

SRL intern Jordan Brown interviews Christopher Zanoni, a teacher at Somerset Area School District, about how he incorporates the events of 9/11 into curriculum.

WITF Mentor Tim Lambert said it is has been a pleasure working with this talented young man.

Jordan Brown chats with Tim Lambert about his experience interning at WITF.

Five hundred miles away, SRL alumna Annie Collick spent most of her time with the Detroit Public Television in-house documentary unit.

Annie conducted research for stories, helps with social media engagement and edited profile pieces for stories in Detroit and Flint, Michigan.

She also had the opportunity to interview local mayors, judges and everyday metro-Detroiters about racial attitudes.

Annie also reported on a local nonprofit called Mission Continues. This nonprofit works in and around the school, renovating walls, flowerbeds, bus stops and athletic fields for students.

“Working with my local PBS station has opened my eyes of all the good happening in and around metro-Detroit. I got to see all the production that goes on to make sure the best story possible is being told, and got to make sure the voices of Detroit are being heard in more ways than one,” she said.

Check back later for an update on SRL Fellow Mya Long as she reports for work at Arizona Public Media. During the Student Reporting Labs Academy, Mya’s work ethic and editing abilities stood out to Steve Bayless, a Reporting Labs mentor and senior editor at Arizona Public Media.

When Bayless discovered Maya would be attending the University of Arizona this fall, he recruited her for his student crew.