The Youth Journalism Initiative
Preparing the next generation of storytellers starts local – in schools and communities.
That’s why CalMatters has partnered with the Emerson Collective to help programs ready more high school students for a career in journalism.
Launched in July 2022, CalMatters’ Youth Journalism Initiative is helping youth become careful consumers and quality producers of news. We recognize that media literacy is key to democratic governance and that California needs a stronger pipeline for diverse youth entering newsrooms.
The Youth Journalism Initiative
Our initiative includes three goals:
- Research the state of youth journalism in California and its needs.
- Collaboratively build solutions with schools and existing community programs.
- Launch pilot youth programs in areas yet to be served.
If you are a teacher or advocate interested in our research, workshops or a partnership, please contact us
Our Upcoming Youth Journalism Events
Announcing JCal 2023!
All-inclusive summer program takes place from June 20 to June 25 in our Sacramento newsroom.
The Asian American Journalists Association is proud to announce JCal, a new program for high school students, created in partnership with CalMatters.
JCal is an all-inclusive, expenses-paid journalism program that immerses high school students from across California into the state’s news ecosystem. During the course of a six-day program, students will produce publishable stories and network with journalists and professionals from across California.
The priority deadline to apply is February 1, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
About CalMatters
CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues while holding our leaders accountable. We are the only journalism outlet dedicated to covering America’s biggest state, 39 million Californians and the world’s fifth largest economy.