Calling all teens! Join us for a new program at SLB, Streaming the News. Students in Grades 6 to 12 with an interest in reporting, journalism, or hosting are invited to participate.

Opportunity 1: Recording the News Contest! 

Submit an audio piece up to three minutes long following one of the following styles: 

• A commentary or learning short on the topic of journalism or reporting in the Pittsburgh area. 
  • These pieces should include some amount of research or reporting content.
• An audio news story featuring original reporting. 
  • Students can either take something they’ve already written OR they can record a new piece. 

Students can submit as many media pieces as they would like to. For each submission, participants will receive a $25 stipend. The winner of the Recording the News Contest will receive an additional $75 stipend (for a total of $100). All submissions will be judged by Erin Anderson, Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Department of English and the producer of Cement City. 

We highly recommend that students join us at the Youth Media Center to receive guidance and feedback on submissions. YMC Open Studio hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. However, if you’d like more support for your piece, please consider joining us on

• Tuesday, 4/7 and Saturday, 4/18 — We’re hosting workshops to help students progress on their contest submissions. Students will receive an overview of reporting and recording best practices, and SLB staff educators will be available to offer feedback and answer questions. 
• Mondays, 3/2 through 4/20 (3 – 6 pm) — Mondays are when our students are working on independent projects, and SLB staff educators are available to offer feedback and answer questions. 

Students are not required to join YMC Programs, however, submissions will be judged on audio quality. Students who choose to join us for YMC Programs will have access to professional-grade recording equipment.

Opportunity 2: Teen Hosts for Streaming the News

Students in Grades 6 – 12 with an interest in journalism are invited to apply to be a live, radio talk show host for Streaming the News, a conversation about where young people get their information and what they hope the future of journalism looks like in Pittsburgh and beyond.

This broadcast will air live on Saturday, May 2, the day before the last edition of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is set to be published. 

Hosts will be asked to commit to a two-hour time block. In the first hour, they’ll work with SLB staff and their co-hosts to plan an hour-long broadcast. This includes choosing topics related to local news, music selections, and more. In the second hour, you and your co-hosts will broadcast live on youthexpress.org. We’ll provide training and no experience is needed!

All hosts for Streaming the News will receive a $25 stipend. 

Students are welcome to apply to be a host AND submit to the contest. 

If you have any questions, reach out to Megan Valley (megan@slbradio.org) and Alexa Bocek (alexa@slbradio.org).