The Bell announces national student reporting initiative on K-12 schools
Firsthand will amplify student perspectives in the national education conversation by pairing data-informed insights with original reporting
NEW YORK — The Bell, a nonprofit dedicated to training the next generation of journalists, announced today the launch of Firsthand, an initiative that will empower young people to report on innovation, engagement and the evolving landscape of American K-12 education.
At a moment when schools are grappling with the rise of AI, growing youth mental health concerns, and urgent questions about students’ preparation for an uncertain future, Firsthand will provide youth-led, solutions-oriented coverage. Student contributors from across the country will spotlight schools and teachers that are reimagining learning, engagement, and belonging. And they’ll offer critical insight into what support-systems and opportunities help them flourish.
“When it comes to education, students often know best what they need to thrive,” said Taylor McGraw, The Bell’s executive director. “This initiative treats them as the experts that they are. It's designed to help student journalists across the country report on some of the most pressing K-12 issues and to amplify what they uncover."
Firsthand is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, a national supporter of K-12 education initiatives. Through this collaboration, student journalists will draw on findings from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation’s research on Gen Z. This body of research is one of the largest and most comprehensive national surveys tracking Gen Z’s attitudes over time.
As a national leader in student-led education reporting, The Bell is well-positioned to lead this initiative. After establishing its flagship youth newsroom and nationally-recognized podcasts illuminating New York City’s complex school system, The Bell founded the Youth Journalism Coalition in 2022 to work collaboratively on creating equitable access to journalism education programs. In early 2025, The Bell expanded to Jackson, Mississippi, where it operates the Jackson Youth Newsroom and leads the Mississippi High School Journalism Project — efforts focused on growing the next generation of journalists in the Deep South.
Through Firsthand, students in New York City and Jackson will receive hands-on training and editorial guidance to produce stories across video, audio, photography, and writing formats. Additional students nationwide will have the opportunity to pitch stories and contribute remotely.
Student recruitment for Firsthand will begin later this spring. The first cohort of contributors will spend the summer reporting and editing their stories. All contributors will be paid at a rate determined by the length, complexity, and reporting demands of each piece they produce.
Audiences can expect to see the first stories published this fall through a dedicated section of The Bell’s website that will become a go-to resource for young people, educators, policymakers, and the general public.
Applications are open now through April 10 for a project editor, who will oversee the pitching, reporting, and publishing of stories. The editor will also provide mentorship to the student contributors, equipping them with the rigorous journalism training required to produce professional-quality work.
Those interested in more information can visit bellvoices.org/firsthand or contact info@bellvoices.org.
About The Bell
Founded in 2017, The Bell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that equips high school students with the tools to tell impactful stories and the skills to thrive in media careers. With newsrooms in New York City and Jackson, Mississippi, and a suite of nationally recognized podcasts, The Bell is a leader in youth-led education reporting. To learn more, visit bellvoices.org and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X.