We’re off and running this school year with the announcement of a groundbreaking investment in student journalism, an upcoming school integration town hall and the relaunch of Radio Rookies.

Get involved 🗣️

Register now for school integration town hall with Nikole Hannah-Jones

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, The Bell and New York Appleseed are partnering to present a school integration town hall featuring New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones and NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, as well as students, educators and parents. The full speaker list will be announced soon.

📅 Tuesday, Oct. 20
🕒 Program 6-8 p.m.; reception 8-9 p.m.
📍 MS 131 Campus, 100 Hester St.

Join us at the Youth Journalism Coalition Summit

On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Youth Journalism Coalition is hosting a summit to connect the network and vote on a project to strengthen the youth journalism landscape. The event will feature live project pitches from community members, lightning talks on the current state of youth journalism, peer-to-peer discussion and plenty of opportunities to plug into the community.

📅 Saturday, Oct. 24
🕒 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
📍Lower Manhattan (RSVP for address)

September highlights

New York City Council delivers historic investment in student journalism

Photo by Dulce Marquez

On Sept. 22, hundreds of students and supporters from the Youth Journalism Coalition joined City Council leaders on the steps of City Hall to announce a $286,000 public investment in the “Journalism for All” initiative. City Council Education Committee Chair Eric Dinowitz, Higher Education Chair Rita Joseph and First Deputy Chancellor of New York City Public Schools Danielle Giunta joined the YJC to celebrate this milestone.

Following the announcement, YJC students testified at the Education Committee’s oversight hearing regarding the state’s new “Portrait of a Graduate” framework, arguing that journalism education offers an effective model for schools to meet changing graduation requirements.

The Bell and WNYC team up to bring back Radio Rookies

The Bell is partnering with New York Public Radio to reintroduce the Peabody Award-winning Radio Rookies program, providing student journalists with the opportunity to report and produce original stories for WNYC’s millions of listeners. Each month, student producers will publish episodes featuring roundtable conversations with teens from across the city about pressing issues facing young people today.

The first episode, which explored teen reading habits, debuted Sept. 15 on “All Things Considered.” Host Sean Carlson interviewed student producer Camilla Spillmann about Radio Rookies’ return to the airwaves in a live conversation at The Greene Space.

New Yorkers ages 14-19 interested in participating in a future roundtable discussion can fill out this form.

New podcast series profiles figures in NYC’s food industry

This year’s Summer Youth Podcast Academy students created episodes profiling restaurant owners, chefs, baristas and more. Listen now on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.

• Persevering and Cheryl’s Global Soul – by Clarke Greene

• Mixing Topics at Twist It Top It – by Venice Tineo

• Sweetening Without the Sugar at Monshe – by Jacob Chase

• Flipping Frowns at Montague Diner – by Thema Awoumbeng

• Serving Slices and Stories at Sacco Pizza – by Lucia Fajardo

• Changing Hearts at Drive Change – by Khamani Mitchell

• Sipping at Daily Provisions – by Ishna Ahmed

• Djon Djon and the Easter Dinner that Changed Everything – by Nadiyah Washington

• Live at LaRina – by Shai Parchi 

• Changing Perceptions at JVF Pantry – by Jaila Eames

• Savoring the Flavor at Sabor Guayaco – by Alyssa Cheong

• Chatting at City League Coffee Roasters – by Brayden Tom

Meet two new team members

We’re thrilled to welcome two NYC Civic Corps members to our team who will drive the Youth Journalism Coalition’s community outreach and engagement.

Featured student opportunities

The RTDNA Foundation is accepting applications for its Ed Bradley Scholarship, which supports college students of color pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital journalism. College sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible. Learn more and apply here by Thursday, October 22. 

The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum is accepting applications for its paid design residency, Design Hive. This is an after-school program for NYC-area high school juniors and seniors looking to develop their design skills through collaborative projects. Apply here by Sunday, October 25. 

The Boston Globe is accepting applications for its summer 2027 internship program. Students currently enrolled in college are eligible. Positions include news, business, sports, copyediting, photojournalism, and more. Learn more and apply here by Sunday, November 1.

Reel Works is accepting applications for Narrative Lab, a free filmmaking workshop that pairs youth filmmakers ages 16-20 with professional mentors to support them in creating a 5-7 minute fictional film. Apply here by Sunday, November 1.

Reel Works is accepting applications for its Narrative Fellows program, which helps advanced youth filmmakers ages 17-21 to specialize in a filmmaking discipline and build a portfolio. Apply here by Sunday, November 29. 

From the archives

Alumni spotlight: Marcellino Melika

“I’m a sophomore at MIT majoring in electrical engineering with computing and biochemistry on the pre-medical track. During my time at The Bell, I got to participate in the Summer Youth Podcast Academy and P.S. Weekly, where I reported on (the lack of) swim education in NYC public schools. After that, I joined WNYC's Radio Rookies program, where I reported and hosted an episode on youth climate anxiety and action. I also spoke on a live episode of P.S. Weekly at SXSW EDU in Austin, Texas. As a teaching assistant, an undergraduate researcher, and (hopefully) a future doctor, I feel that my experiences with The Bell have significantly enabled me to better support others through effective communication and advocacy.”

– Marcellino Melika, SYPA ’23, P.S. Weekly ’24

Photo of the month

Student reporter Autumn Wynn’s article about teen third spaces was recently published in the Amsterdam News. Autumn is an alumna of The Bell’s Miseducation program, a student leader for the Youth Journalism Coalition and a freshman at Elizabethtown College. She interned at the Amsterdam News this past summer through a new journalism-focused internship pathway within the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Support the next generation of journalists and civic leaders.