Author: Janet W. Lee

Calling all student storytellers: NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge is back for 2026. As always, we’re looking to award prizes to the best middle school and high school podcasts in America — but we have an additional special prize this year: To mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, send us podcasts that explore what the phrase, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” means to you. For this special challenge, our judges will be listening for stories that look back at historical events, take us to historic places, or that explore what it means to be…

Many states and school districts now ban or restrict the use of cell phones in schools. But what do the kids think about this? Student journalists in New Jersey brought this question to their classmates and teachers. SCOTT DETROW, HOST: More than half of states ban or restrict students’ use of cellphones in school. Test scores have been lagging since before the pandemic, and experts say these bans could help them focus on learning. But how do the kids feel about all of this? We’re going to hear from two groups of students who offered their opinions to our Student…

A still image from the famous 1967 film by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin, said to be of Bigfoot. Roger Patterson & Robert Gimlin hide caption toggle caption Roger Patterson & Robert Gimlin Every year, when NPR opens up our Student Podcast Challenge, thousands of young people send us their stories. We get investigative journalism, heartfelt family interviews, and deeply personal stories. Our judges hear podcasts about sports, and music, and life at school. And, inevitably, we get some absolute gems. Like this one: “Monster Madness, it’s the podcast that we need,” 11-year-old Ryan Betts-Ng sings cheerfully in his entry…

A college student shares how his award-winning podcast about his rare mental health condition has connected him to a new community and opened him up to new opportunities. Janet W. Lee 2025-07-23 09:00:58 Source link

Teachers, educators and student podcasters, it’s official. We’ve been hearing from quite a few of you over the last few days, from all over the country, asking for a little more time to get those podcasts in. And we know how busy everyone is — wrapping up assignments, preparing for exams, while still trying to have your best shot at winning the Student Podcast Challenge. So, we’re extending the contest deadline. All entries are now due Sunday, May 25 at midnight E.T. As a reminder, here’s how the NPR Student Podcast Challenge works: Students make a podcast on their own,…

Fifth graders Kenley Taylor (left) and Gabby De Sa (right) work on story outlining during a MagTV morning meeting at Magnolia Elementary School in Carlsbad, Calif. Alan Nakkash for NPR hide caption toggle caption Alan Nakkash for NPR It’s before school on a crisp Friday morning in Carlsbad, Calif. Andrew Luria is rallying the kids in his newsroom. “How many of you guys didn’t do your homework?” Luria asks the 10- and 11-year-old journalists. Nearly half the students in his broadcasting club, sitting on the floor of their multipurpose room, raise their hands. “Wow, my own daughter?” he responds with…

It all started with a small idea back in 2018, when NPR’s education team wanted to know what was really going on in the minds of young people. We wanted to hear about the things that keep students up at night, their obsessions and concerns, and stories they’re dying to get off their chest. So we created the Student Podcast Challenge, an opportunity for students all around the country to record their stories and share them with NPR. Little did we know: Over the last six years, we’ve listened to more than 17,000 podcasts from all 50 states, the District…