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Reporting the Truth, Finding Their Voice–CCS Students Complete the 2025 Journalist in Training Session

chapman with students

April 03, 2024 — In a world flooded with content, 19 Columbus City Schools (CCS) students spent a semester learning how to find the facts, ask the right questions, and report with purpose.

“I really wanted to learn how to share the stories of people I've come across,” said Yasmine Ahmed, a junior at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High School. “I know that there are stories out there that need to be heard, that need to be voiced. I want to develop the tools to be able to share [those] stories.”

Over five weeks, high school students from across CCS took a bold step into the world of professional storytelling through the 2025 Columbus Journalists in Training program. Joined by peers, students immersed themselves in the fast-paced world of news, reporting, and media production through a partnership with The Columbus Dispatch, the Society of Professional Journalists Central Ohio Pro Chapter, and the Columbus Association of Black Journalists.

“[The Journalists in Training sessions] are opportunities for them to sit down with adults who are professionals and to feel their own worth,” said Sonja Dill, Supervisor of Secondary Curriculum & Instruction. “Professionals are everyday people who have gone along their journey and can help give back, advise, and pour into our students to empower them.”

The Journalist in Training program gave students access to real-world newsroom environments and mentorship from working journalists. Students learned how to pitch stories, interview sources, fact-check information, and navigate the pressure of deadlines. However, the most powerful lessons for students went beyond writing articles or producing video packages. The students developed critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills, which are tools they can use in any career after high school.

“I signed up for the program because I've been interested in journalism for a while,” said Ryan Vorvornator, a junior at Columbus Alternative High School. “I feel like this program could give me a head start in what I wanted to do and develop the skills I need. It has improved my confidence in talking to people and I feel like journalism would be a career where I would give voice to myself and other people.”

Due to the ever-evolving nature of news platforms, students learned about non-traditional reporting such as TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts. Formats that increasingly shape how young people consume news and share information.

According to the International Journalists’ Network, these digital-first platforms have given rise to a more participatory model of journalism where student voices are heard and valued. Through Journalists in Training, students are becoming part of that platform shift and bringing professionalism with them.

“On behalf of Denison University, we appreciate the hard work that all of the students have done [in this program],” said Alan Miller, professor at Denison University. “I was very happy to be part of the mentorship opportunity. We need truth tellers and fact finders to make sure that the people of this country continue to get facts that they need. [These students] are the next generation of those fact finders and truth tellers.”

In an era where messaging spreads quickly, Journalists in Training is helping students build media literacy. Mentors worked closely with students, teaching them how to question sources, understand bias, and practice critical thinking. One student discovered during a newsroom exercise that journalism isn't about echoing opinions—it's about searching for truth and telling stories that matter.

The skills learned are as transferable as they are powerful. A 2024 report from News Decoder emphasized that synthesizing information, asking clear questions, and writing with purpose are key abilities in almost every job market. Mentors here are training these students to become reporters. They coach them to lead, advocate, and think critically in any field they pursue.

“No matter what their profession is going to be, they're going to need these socializing skills,” Dill said. “[With this program] they've had opportunities where they can sit contently with limitations in their minds, anxiety that they've had around different things, and learn how to push through them.”

By the end of the five weeks, the students exiting the 2025 Journalists in Training program didn’t just walk away with stories, they left with confidence. Students saw firsthand what it means to inform a community, hold people accountable, and purposefully use their voices. With every byline and broadcast, these students graduating from Journalists in Training are leaving with big dreams and they’re ready to achieve more.

Check out the 2025 Journalist in Training stories here:

Briggs High School