Dear Sac City Unified Families,

The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is sponsoring a new student program in 2022-2023 to recruit and train high school students in the county to report on and write about their schools and districts. Due to a decade of cutbacks in news media staffs, there are fewer education reporters in the region to report on schools and education in anywhere the depth they require.

The Student Education Reporter Program will provide students with writing, reporting and critical thinking skills though a paid internship model. Each student will go through a rigorous two-week summer training and then report on assigned schools or districts during the academic year. Each student will work intensely with a professional journalist who will act as instructor, editor and writing coach. All stories the student reporters produce will be provided free to local Sacramento area news outlets.

The purpose of the program is to increase coverage of schools and education programs, to help better inform parents and communities of vital education news and enhance student civic engagement.

Any high school student within Sacramento County, grades 9-12, may apply. Each student reporter will be required to produce a minimum of one story a month, August to May, and attend monthly meetings, either remotely or in-person. Each student who completes the academic year in the program will earn a $1,200 stipend. Each participating student will work with a journalism educator or professional journalist who will help them develop their reporting and writing skills. All students in the program will also be connected to local college journalism programs at community colleges and CSU Sacramento and have to opportunity to learn from working professionals.

To apply students should contact program director Steve O’Donoghue via email or by calling (415) 509-1518. Applicants must complete a downloadable form and include writing samples and letters of recommendation. The deadline is April 30. 

Interested students can see examples of work produced by student reporters at SacSchoolBeat.com.