How to work with SRL: New for the 2024-25 school year

BACK TO SCHOOL KICKOFF

We held our  virtual back-to-school kickoff event in August! Check out this recording (or slides) to learn how we’re doing things a little differently this year  (TLDR: PITCHES for most stories!), and read on…

PROMPTS AND DEADLINES – NEW THIS YEAR: PITCHES FOR MOST STORIES!!

The 2024-2025 school year prompts are open! From under-told histories and climate change to youth activism and elections — report a story in your community and share it with Student Reporting Labs. 

NEW THIS YEAR: PITCHES FOR ALL STORY IDEAS.

Students are invited to pitch story ideas around the prompts for this year using this form.  SRL will accept pitches on a rolling basis from August 1, 2024, to February 1, 2025. 

PRO TIPS BEFORE BEFORE PITCHING YOUR STORY

• RESEARCH: Spend time doing research, talk to people you’d like to interview, and shape your story ideas
• WATCH: This short video about pitching
• REVIEW: This pitch example before submitting your idea.

THEN, SUBMIT YOUR PITCH

Submit your pitch using this form on a rolling basis from Aug 1, 2024, to Feb 1, 2025.

NEXT STEPS

If your pitch is selected, a team member will reach out within three weeks of submission to provide feedback on further story development and possible production support. Pitches that progress will include submitting a rough cut, fine cut, and final cut and collaborative work with the SRL team.

REPORTING OPPORTUNITIES: From quick social media projects to in-depth reported projects, there’s something for you!

There are opportunities to do projects with varying degrees of skill level and complexity– from shorter social media pieces that could be produced in one or two days, to longer, more challenging video or audio projects that may take up to 4 to 6 weeks.

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR PROMPTS: students are invited to report video and audio stories in their community and publish on their own, or pitch their ideas to Student Reporting Labs from August 1- Feb 1. 

RAPID RESPONSE + SRL SHORTS: Look for quick turnaround reactions to topics (Rapid Responses) and SRL Shorts (vertical video for social) throughout the year. These will not require pitches; you will submit these via a submission form. 

CONTRIBUTE TO ON OUR MINDS: On Our Minds is Student Reporting Labs’ award-winning teen life and wellbeing podcast. We’re starting to make season 5, “Who Inspires You?” with students, and are looking for hosts, stories, and theme music:

• • Ever dreamt of being a podcast host? Apply to be a podcast host for On Our Minds season 5! This is a paid opportunity. Deadline: Dec 1, 2024. 
  • Do you love making music? Submit original music to our theme song contest! Deadline: February 14, 2025.
  • Does someone in your life really inspire you? Want to learn audio storytelling? Submit this interest form to produce an audio story during the fall or spring semesters

Note: SRL’s On Our Minds Season 5, “Who Inspires You?” podcast launching in spring 2025 will highlight the people students look up to, including friends, families, teams, schools, communities, or people in the public sphere. 

Sign up for StoryMaker to get regular updates about these and other opportunities for teachers and students! 

PUBLICATION

If you want your story idea to be considered for publication by SRL, submit your pitch from August 1, 2024, to February 1, 2025. Due to the volume of submissions SRL receives, we cannot guarantee pitch approval or publication. 

If your pitch is selected, a team member will reach out within three weeks of submission to provide feedback and next steps. Pitches that progress will include submitting a rough cut, fine cut, and final cut, and collaborative work with the SRL team. Select student work may be featured on national or local news outlets and social media– including the PBS NewsHour’s broadcast and digital platforms.

SRL also encourages you to publish your story and tag SRL so we can re-share!

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS & TEACHERS THIS YEAR! 

JOIN OUR STUDENT ADVISORY TEAM: SRL is seeking high school journalists to join our Student Advisory Team and help shape SRL’s editorial coverage. Time commitment: one hour-long Zoom call each month during the 2024-25 school year. NOW OPEN! Application for the 2024-25 Student Advisory Team here. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 27, 2024.

SRL Winter Academy: More info coming in October 

Teacher Workshop 2025: More info coming in February

SRL Summer Academy 2025: More info coming in February 

Sign up for StoryMaker to get regular updates about upcoming opportunities. 

HOW TEACHERS AND STUDENTS CAN GET HELP FROM THE SRL TEAM

Send an email to the SRL team to get help and feedback during the pitching and reporting process:

• For questions about pitching your story or the Student Advisory Team, email Marie Cusick marie@reportinglabs.org
• For questions about SRL social media content or SRL Shorts, email Rawan Elbaba  rawan@reportinglabs.org 
• For questions about equipment or training events like the SRL Academy or Teacher Workshop, email Victor Fernandez  victor@reportinglabs.org
• For questions about the On Our Minds podcast, email Briget Ganske briget@reportinglabs.org
• For anything else – meet the rest of our team here, and send an email our way!

STAY CONNECTED

Get us in your inbox — sign up for our newsletter. 

Get us on your phone — join either the SRL Educator WhatsApp group or the SRL Student WhatsApp group to get the latest opportunities and updates delivered to your phone.