This post was originally published by PBS NewsHour.

PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL), a journalism education program in middle and high schools across the country, has received this year’s Edward R. Murrow Award for its inaugural podcast, “On Our Minds” with Noah & Zion.

“On Our Minds” covers the biggest mental health challenges facing young people including depression, anxiety, the impact of the pandemic, trauma and social media. Teen co-hosts Noah Konevitch and Zion Williams guide listeners through stories submitted by students in the SRL network and conversations with teens and experts in the mental health field. The podcast is a part of WETA’s Well Beings, a public media initiative addressing the critical mental health needs in America.

The Edward R. Murrow Awards are administered by the Radio, Television, Digital News Association. More than 5,000 entries from hundreds of journalism organizations competed for the awards. Other award winners include Frontline, CBS News, 60 Minutes, Netflix and NBC News. Winners, including Noah and Zion, will be honored at the awards gala in Gotham Hall in New York City on October 10.

“How timely and amazing to see a podcast created with, for, and by teenagers on this distinguished list of winners,” said PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs Executive Director Leah Clapman. “Special congrats to Youth Media Producer Briget Ganske, who first pitched the idea for a youth mental health podcast two years ago, led the search for teen co-hosts and student correspondents, and created the concept of an audio series that weaves together stories, conversations and expert interviews.

We’re especially proud of the teen co-hosts, Noah and Zion, who were creative, patient, flexible and honest throughout the first year and continue to be part of the project into Season 2 and beyond.”

About PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’s Murrow Award-winning Work:

In 2020, as the world shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, Student Reporting Labs asked its national network of students to report on the state of mental health among middle and high schoolers.

The result? “On Our Minds,” the first season of a student-led and student-produced podcast about the biggest mental health challenges young people face. Bonus content includes a guided meditation and techniques to process and live with the effects of trauma. Season two includes stories about LGBTQ+ experiences, school pressure, eating disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia, understanding a mental health diagnosis and more.

“On Our Minds” is produced with support from WETA’s Well Beings campaign and youth mental health project, as well as National Institutes of Health SEPA Partnership, National Science Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the MacArthur Foundation and the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation.

Credits: SRL Executive Producers Leah Clapman and Elis Estrada; Lead Producer Briget Ganske; teen co-hosts Noah Konevitch & Zion Williams; Youth Media Producers Marie Cusick and Becky Wandel; Digital Producer Rawan Elbaba; Production Assistants Jayah Moore-Ross and Mercedes Ezeji; Director of Youth Media Program Victor Fernandez; former Youth Media Producer Eli Kintisch; former NewsHour podcast producer Vika Aronson; Teen Health Media Consultant Dr. Hina Talib; NewsHour Executive Producer Sara Just.

About PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs:

Student Reporting Labs (SRL) is a national youth journalism program and public media initiative that trains teenagers across the country to produce stories that highlight the achievements, challenges, and reality of today’s youth. SRL creates transformative educational experiences through video journalism that inspire students to find their voice and engage in their communities.

Since 2009, SRL youth media producers have helped students place over 100 video news reports on PBS NewsHour’s nightly broadcast and more on local media outlets, reaching millions of viewers. Visit www.studentreportinglabs.org to learn more and www.story-maker.org to start your own program.

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