Full Report (PDF) | Student Journalism in Public Media Database (Google Sheet)
Key Findings
The Center for Community News at UVM launched this project to identify the breadth of college student involvement at local public media stations, as well as the potential for more collaboration.
CCN combined FCC data, original research and outreach to stations to map the extraordinary overlap between America’s colleges and its public media outlets – overlap in mission, skills and physical infrastructure.
Both institutions have long served as pillars of our democracy, but there’s more to this story: their collaboration can amplify impact and promote long-term sustainability.
At a time when both public media and universities are under attack, our research shows (Google Sheet) surprising breadth and scope of college student journalism at public media organizations:
88 percent of public media organizations provide opportunities for college students to help cover their community (282 of 319 NPR and/or PBS affiliates.)
59 percent of public media organizations provide intensive, regular and ongoing opportunities for college students (188 of 319 stations.)
Many public media organizations (41 of 319) make teaching students their core mission - 13 percent of local stations are “teaching hospitals” for journalism.
Students at these public media organizations serve rural, suburban and urban audiences, many in news deserts. Public radio signals reach over 95 percent of Americans.
50 percent of all public media organizations are licensed to a college or university (161 of 319 stations.)
Even more student journalists could contribute to public media organizations through deeper news/academic partnerships involving both internships and in-class production.
Maps
88 percent of NPR stations provide opportunities for college students to cover their community, representing 91 percent of the U.S. population.
Each circle represents the area served by a local NPR station signal.
The gold circles represent stations that give college students the opportunity to help cover their local community.
The grey circles are stations with little or no student engagement.
59 percent of public media organizations provide intensive, regular and ongoing opportunities for college students (Levels 3 and 4 on the map)
Each circle represents the area served by a local NPR station signal.
The dark green circles are stations with the highest level of student involvement.
The light green circles are stations with a high level of student involvement.
The light yellow circles are stations with some student involvement.
The grey circles are stations with little or no student involvement.
50 percent of public media organizations are licensed by a college or university.