What is Behind the Story?

Student journalists are instrumental in telling important — and often untold — stories for their communities. Our series, Behind the Story, showcases those important, bold pieces of student journalism and the writers behind the work.

This series highlights pieces of student journalism at both the high school and collegiate level, and we’d love to hear from you! If you have a story that you’re proud of and would like to share your experiences writing and reporting, email intern@splc.org with your information and a link to your story.

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(From left) Srihari Yechangunja, Angelina Liu, Manasa Mohan and Sri Achanta holding up their printed story spread. Texas student journalists cover their district’s response to wave of book bans - Texas student journalists cover their district's response to book bans and share why student journalists must report on censorship issues. Continue reading Texas student journalists cover their district’s response to wave of book bans
A headshot of Aleksandra Sidorova with the Behind the Story logo to the left. Aleksandra Sidorova explores the value of cultivating strong connections with sources - Student journalist Aleksandra Sidorova shares her process for writing her story that exposed a lack of information about student-parents on… Continue reading Aleksandra Sidorova explores the value of cultivating strong connections with sources
How Olivia Brunsting & Caroline Christensen uncovered their school’s poor support system for RAs - Student journalists Olivia Brunsting & Caroline Christensen shared more about their investigative story, "R(A)eality of Being an RA." Continue reading How Olivia Brunsting & Caroline Christensen uncovered their school’s poor support system for RAs
Sahana Unni working at a desktop in her newsroom with the Behind The Story logo to the left Sahana Unni’s reporting explores challenges LGBTQIA+ students face at her school - Student journalist Sahana Unni shared more about her story "Pronoun Problems: Students frustrated when teachers don’t use the right pronouns." Continue reading Sahana Unni’s reporting explores challenges LGBTQIA+ students face at her school
Nathalie Miranda (left) with adviser Adriana Chavira (right) and Valeria Luquin (center) with the Behind The Story logo to the left. Nathalie Miranda reflects on their story that sparked unlawful censorship - Nathalie Miranda from the Pearl Post shared what it was like writing their story that sparked a nation-wide discussion on… Continue reading Nathalie Miranda reflects on their story that sparked unlawful censorship
Photo of Leila Saidane (right) talking with a peer and the Behind The Story logo to the right. Leila Saidane uses her interest in research to find and report on new stories - Leila Saidane from The Daily Texan shares how she used her role as a researcher on the student paper to… Continue reading Leila Saidane uses her interest in research to find and report on new stories
Photo of Kinnera Mulam, Sarah Mohammed, and Emma Gao with the Behind The Story logo to the right Harker Aquila student journalists highlight Hispanic and Latinx culture and community - Kinnera Mulam, Sarah Mohammed and Emma Gao share their experiences writing their story about Hispanic and Latinx culture at their… Continue reading Harker Aquila student journalists highlight Hispanic and Latinx culture and community