Local News Lab Mentoring Program
A partnership between local newsrooms and high schools
Local News Lab is a short-term, mentor-led journalism program designed for high school students who are curious about storytelling, community issues, civics, or media literacy.
Through a series of afterschool workshops, students work directly with professional journalists — editors and reporters from trusted local news outlets — who guide them through the process of reporting a real story about their community.
No prior journalism experience is required. The program is beginner-friendly, hands-on, and designed to build confidence, critical thinking, and civic awareness.
Over the course of the program, students learn how to:
Understand the role of local journalism in a community
Distinguish news from opinion and social media content
Identify credible sources and verify information
Conduct respectful, effective interviews
Cover community events and public meetings
Take accurate notes and work with public documents
Write a clear, factual news story
Add a visual element (photo or document image)
Create social-media-ready captions that inform — not hype
The curriculum emphasizes accuracy, fairness, context, and responsible use of digital tools, including AI (with careful fact-checking and verification)
6–8 afterschool sessions
Approximately 60 minutes per session
Small cohort for hands-on guidance
In-person, mentor-led workshops
Students complete a full story package by the end of the program:
One reported news story
One visual element
2–3 social-media-ready captions
A short reflection
Student safety and responsible participation are central to Local News Lab.
Students are supervised by professional journalists and school-approved adults
All interviews are conducted transparently
No hidden recording or deceptive practices are permitted
Students attend only public meetings or approved events
Photography guidelines protect privacy
All content is reviewed by mentors before publication
The program reinforces ethical decision-making, respectful communication, and civic responsibility
Students who successfully complete the program and are interested may have the opportunity to continue working with a mentor newsroom as junior contributors. These freelance opportunities are optional and handled separately from the school-based program.
This pathway allows motivated students to continue building skills — and potentially earn compensation — while contributing responsibly to local journalism.
Local journalism strengthens communities.
Media literacy builds informed citizens.
Young people deserve real opportunities to participate in civic life.
Local News Lab sits at the intersection of all three.
By connecting students with working journalists, the program helps cultivate the next generation of civic storytellers — while reinforcing the importance of trusted local news across New Hampshire.
We’re happy to talk.
If you’re a student, parent, or educator and want to learn more about Local News Lab, reach out directly.
📩 Melanie Plenda
Executive Director, Granite State News Collaborative
melanie.plenda@collaborativenh.org
Interested in bringing Local News Lab to your school?
We partner with high schools across New Hampshire to offer this program as an afterschool enrichment opportunity.
If you’re a principal, teacher, or school leader and would like to explore hosting a cohort, we’d love to connect.