Gen Z front and center at #DemDebate hosted by NewsHour and POLITICO

December 20, 2019 

Nearly 100 high school students from the Los Angeles-area gathered at Loyola Marymount University to watch the sixth Democratic primary debate co-hosted by the PBS NewsHour and POLITICO. Blocks away from the debate hall at LMU’s St. Robert’s Auditorium, teens on different sides of the political spectrum reacted in real-time to what candidates had to say about climate change, immigration, race, income inequality, and other issues.

After the debate, local high school students participated in a panel moderated by Yarel Ramos, an anchor, and correspondent for Univision. From lighting and set design to behind the scenes coverage in the debate hall, the entire event was produced with student reporters.

Attendees included students from Venice High School, Canyon High School, West Ranch High School, Northview High School, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School, Marlborough School, and student journalists from South Kern Sol in Bakersfield, California.

SRL also worked with LMU student journalists who covered the event on Snapchat, Instagram and for other local media organizations. Snapchat provided personalized filters for students to use throughout the day. Reporters from The New York Times and NPR spent time with students, interviewing them about their opinions on different candidates

The night before the debate, the NewsHour aired a piece featuring students from around the country asking questions to Democratic presidential candidates who participated in the debates.

Student journalists from T.C. Williams in Alexandria, Virginia even got to interview Judy Woodruff about how she prepares for the role of moderator. The piece features student correspondent, Bridgette Adu-Wadier.