About Us

Tentatively titled South Bay Youth Journalism, this youth journalism project will recruit, train, and have diverse students produce their own multimedia news reporting and engaging social media information-sharing projects on issues that matter to them and their underrepresented communities, with priority youth and coverage in North Long Beach, West Long Beach, Wilmington and San Pedro.

The project is a pilot of CalMatters’ Youth Journalism Initiative, which seeks to amp youth journalism and media literacy across California.

To apply for our program, click here.

 

Students will learn:

  • News writing

  • News design for social media

  • Photography

  • Video production

  • Audio production

  • Audience development

  • Fundraising and business

  • Newsletter development

  • Attend media mixers

  • More by your request! We are connected to many experienced journalists and media professionals. Students vote on workshops at the beginning of the year.

Benefits:

  • Mentorship – Be paired with regional news reporters

  • Learn industry skills

  • Learn to pitch your own stories – Lead coverage and shape conversations and policy for the region

  • Upon advancing skills, possible story placement or co-report projects with major media

  • Industry-related travel opportunities and field trips

  • Unique experience for college applications and career readiness

  • Stipends

Age
Students must be 15 – 19 years old. We might expand the age range in late 2024.

Qualifications to join
No experience is necessary. We welcome all: writers, nonwriters, social media enthusiasts, graphic designers, artists, more!

Region
The geographic coverage for this project is San Pedro, Wilmington, West and North Long Beach. Priority seats will be given to youth from these areas.

About our coverage area
The South Bay region is made up of blue collar, Black, Latino and Asian immigrant communities sitting along one of the largest ports in the world. Students already surveyed for this project have identified a number of themes around housing, school climate, air pollution, poverty, street design, bikeability, development altering cultural landmarks, along with a desire for representation. Youth also mentioned the need to celebrate the beauty of their cultures, successes of their community while uplifting arts and hobbies that youth are most interested in.

Our draft mission
True to youth-led models, program participants will be able to refine our mission statement as well as the program name and more. Below are current mission values.

  1. Cover underreported issues and populations

  2. Train and connect diverse youth to industry and relevant media skills

  3. Encouraging civic engagement, making issues relatable 

  4. Hold institutions accountable without regard to party or partisanship

  5. Involve youth in program decisions around content, branding, special projects, outreach and more.


    Questions? Email Michael Lozano: michael@calmatters.org