PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) receives funding from the Google News Lab to explore media literacy through storytelling across generations
November 22, 2021
Arlington, Va.— PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) has been named the recipient of funding from the Google News Lab to further its efforts to bridge generational digital divides and strengthen media literacy.
Over the next 18 months, SRL will create and develop a multi-platform initiative, leveraging its core strengths of working with young people in media making, storytelling and video journalism.
The initiative will include a digital series of intergenerational dialogue about misinformation, Q&As with teen fact-checkers, student-hosted explainer videos, and a digital special distributed and promoted through the PBS NewsHour digital platforms. SRL plans to strategically partner with 10 local public media outlets, as well as national civics and education organizations to fold in civics engagement.
“Young people using their voices and producing stories gain sophisticated and valuable media literacy skills,” said Leah Clapman, SRL’s founder. “However, we’re recognizing more and more the importance of sharing those stories and communicating across generations about how very different digital experiences can be, especially the ways misinformation impacts relationships, civic participation, and society.‘’
The intergenerational nature of this initiative is made possible by the unique combination of the PBS NewsHour and Student Reporting Labs, its youth media training program for middle and high schoolers that works with over 3,000 students every year and thousands more through educators who use its award-winning journalism curriculum on StoryMaker.
About PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
Now in over 170 middle and high schools, Student Reporting Labs (SRL) is a national youth media 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. SRL creates transformative educational experiences through video journalism that inspire students to find their voice and engage in their communities. Since 2009, SRL youth media producers have helped students place over 100 video news reports on PBS NewsHour’s nightly broadcast and more on local media outlets. Visit www.studentreportinglabs.org to learn more.
About PBS NewsHour
PBS NewsHour is a production of NewsHour Productions LLC, a wholly-owned non-profit subsidiary of WETA Washington, DC, in association with WNET in New York. Major corporate funding is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, Fidelity, and Johnson & Johnson, with additional support from Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Ford Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Lemelson Foundation, National Science Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Skoll Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Friends of the NewsHour and others. More information on PBS NewsHour is available at www.pbs.org/newshour. On social media, visit PBS NewsHour on Facebook or follow @NewsHour on Twitter.
About Google News Lab
The Google News Lab is a team within the Google News Initiative whose mission is to collaborate with journalists and entrepreneurs to drive innovation in news. Offering partnerships and training in over 50 countries, the News Lab brings the best of Google technology to tackle important challenges in journalism today. To learn more visit https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/google-news-lab.