Midway through its second year, GPB’s Student Voices Collective (SVC) is proving what happens when students are given the tools, trust, and time to report on their communities. As of December 2025, 173 student reporters across 34 schools and programs have produced 93 original stories, a clear sign of both scale and sustained engagement.

Reporting That Matters

SVC journalists explore the issues that shape their daily lives, producing place-based stories rooted in relevance, student perspective, and civic awareness. Their work spans topics such as school safety, mental health, career pathways, student life, sports, and creative expression, covering the stories that reflect what truly matters in their communities. Their reporting emphasizes thoughtfulness and responsibility, favoring depth over click-driven novelty.

Where Student Stories Shine

Across Georgia, students are producing stories that reflect curiosity, insight, and meaningful impact. Common focus areas include:

  • School safety & policy changes – metal detectors, security staffing, and rule updates
  • Student mental health & well-being – stress, academic pressure, counseling access, and peer support
  • Career pathways & workforce readiness – internships, certifications, and career academies
  • Student life & identity – belonging, leadership, and cultural expression
  • Sports & teamwork – inclusion, perseverance, and community impact
  • Community issues – transportation, neighborhood safety, food access, and local pride
  • Arts & creative expression – music, performance, and student engagement

These topics show what young people care about most, and how civic reporting starts with understanding their lived experiences.

What the Numbers Reveal

Participation spans urban, suburban, and exurban districts, with particularly strong engagement from exurban and semi-rural schools. Other insights include:

  • Collaboration is key. Most reporting happens in multi-student teams, mirroring real newsroom practices.
  • Middle school journalism thrives. Hammond Creek Middle School demonstrates that civic reporting is both possible and powerful, even in younger grades.
  • The model scales. SVC works across grade levels, school types, and district sizes.

Looking Ahead

As the Collective moves through the 2025–26 school year, its momentum remains strong. Students across Georgia are building media literacy, civic awareness, and storytelling skills while producing journalism that reflect their communities with care and credibility.

Explore the stories and hear from Georgia’s next generation of storytellers at GPB.org/SVC.