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: 

  1. Research the state of youth journalism in California and its needs.
  2. Collaboratively build solutions with schools and existing community programs.
  3. Launch pilot programs in areas yet to be served.

If you are interested in our work or a partnership, contact us:

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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.