‘Our New Normal’: How Teens are Redefining School Life
PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs

‘Our New Normal’: How Teens are Redefining School Life

  • No longer active
  • Created by our station
Co-hosted by NewsHour Anchor Amna Nawaz with teen co-hosts, Kate Nakamura and Terry Jones, PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL)’s network of student reporters documented the return to school amid the pandemic, cultural debates sweeping school board meetings and local elections, and the kinds of life-altering experiences that changed young people and education. Among the topics covered were anti-transgender bills, teaching race and history, book bans and the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

This project reaches tweens and teens via...

  • Directly engaging t(w)eens via activities, events, or programs
  • Indirectly reaching t(w)eens via educators, PD, curriculum
  • Media and/or educational content that is made by, with, or for t(w)eens

What topics does this project focus on?

Civic engagement Culture, society Current affairs Education Journalism Life skills, career skills Media literacy Media making Public media Wellness, mental health

*

Is this project considered part of the station's journalism work?

Yes

Departments involved:

Education Newsroom Production (TV/Radio) Engagement

Media and/or educational content

Who is the primary audience of the content?

T(w)eens

Who creates the media content?

T(w)eens and adults (in collaboration)

*T(w)eens

Who decides the topic areas of the content?

Both youth and adults (in collaboration)

Where is the content shared?

Broadcast TV Website Instagram Facebook Twitter

Directly engaging tweens and teens in local programming

In this project...

We host programming directly for t(w)eens We partner with *local organizations* to host programming We partner with *national organizations* to host programming

Contact time between youth participants and station staff:

11+ hours

Indirectly engaging youth via educators, professional development, or curriculum

This project indirectly engages youth by partnering with...

Schools Community-based organizations or nonprofits Curriculum or content distributors (e.g., PBS Learning Media) Public departments (e.g., city parks department, local library, etc.)

Does this project train educators or run a professional development program?

No

Does this project create curricula or educational resources for educators to use?

Yes