SALT LAKE CITY, UT, June 10, 2025 — Two Utah residents were recently selected to take part in summer training programs with PBS News Student Reporting Labs (SRL) — a national student journalism training program that connects young people to real-world reporting experiences and educators to tools, resources, and community.
Janey Mitchell, Student
Chris Sloan, Educator
Janey Mitchell, a sophomore at North Sanpete High School in Mount Pleasant, Utah, will travel to Washington D.C. from June 22-28 as a Fellow in the SRL Summer Academy. Mitchell was selected as one of 20 students nationwide to participate. During the week-long immersive experience, she will receive professional mentorship in producing original news stories, showcasing her work at a final screening at WETA.
“Student reporters play a vital role in amplifying youth voices and fostering the next generation of ethical, informed journalists," said PBS Utah Director of Programming and Community Engagement Laura Durham.
Also traveling to Washington D.C. this summer is Chris Sloan — a teacher at Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City. Sloan will attend the annual SRL Teacher Workshop July 25-27 at WETA headquarters, home of PBS News Hour. There, Sloan will collaborate with the SRL team to enhance his technical and editorial skills, gaining new tools to teach storytelling and media production in the classroom.
The SRL program is grounded in the belief that local reporting and interdisciplinary video productions are transformative tools for youth learning and civic participation. By including young voices in the news — both behind the scenes and in front of the camera — SRL aims to foster a more inclusive and representative media landscape.
"At PBS Utah, we are proud to support this impactful initiative as our collaboration reflects a shared commitment to cultivating media literacy, civic engagement, and responsible storytelling among young people," Durham said.
Major support for SRL is provided by the Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Frieda Berlinski Foundation, the William Talbott Hillman Foundation, the National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnership Award, and the Google News Initiative.
About PBS Utah
PBS Utah is committed to providing Utahns with access to exceptional content that entertains, informs, and enriches viewers. PBS Utah airs national programming plus award-winning, locally produced documentaries, and series. PBS Utah provides viewers with access to quality educational, arts, and entertainment programs 24 hours a day, online and over four broadcast channels: PBS Utah, WORLD, PBS Kids 24/7, and Create.
PRESS CONTACT:
Karyn Crandall
PBS Utah
Communications Coordinator
kcrandall@pbsutah.org
www.pbsutah.org
