Thankful for our Amazing Student Reporters
A recap of our recent original reporting plus bonus content.
As students graduate this week, we wanted to reiterate our gratitude for all the student reporters who have contributed to this hyperlocal mutual aid reporting enterprise, interviewing northern Nevada’s underdogs, from share your story sessions at the library, to encampments, small businesses and local artist venues.
The point of Our Town Reno has always been to give a platform to local underdogs but also to showcase work from up and coming storytellers, so their videos, photos, essays and journalistic contributions can be seen and commented upon, to make a splash and make a difference, to show to them and others that local journalism still matters.
The students themselves are members of the community, often having to work several jobs to keep going in their studies, feeling the hardships of unaffordable housing and the high cost of getting healthy food.
Many of our Our Town Reno alumni including in these photos above have since thrived in journalism, academia and the legal field.
Very recently, we can point to Stephanie Navarro Rocha who did a five minute mini doc on those for and against a new county ban on unauthorized camping, or Ray Grosser, who delved into local mental health and substance abuse services and found a success story, or Kia Rastar, who has been documenting pro Palestinian protests with his camera, or Jayanti Sarkar, who has been showcasing local entrepreneurs and artists in video, or Em Tomeo, who has been going to local shops, churches, shows and events for riveting features, or finally Lauren Juillerat and Saurabh Chawla, who have been uncovering up and coming 775 musical talent in articles, videos and podcasts.
As students take a break, or move on to their next steps in life, we are grateful for all the raw energy, curiosity and compassion they bring to their reporting, exposing dark corners and illuminating rays of hope, opening eyes and hopefully hearts as well to our neighbors in need, to those struggling, to those trying to make northern Nevada a better and more caring place.
Our Recent Original Reporting
Divisions over the Camping Ban in Washoe County, Reno and Sparks
Homelessness Advisory Board Finally Meets, Showing Concerns for High Number of Unhoused
Leo Carew, Getting the Help He Needed at the Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital
Ideas for Progress: Should we depave parts of Reno to reduce our heat islands of pavement?
County Confirms Employee Tore Down Candidate's Sign
Local Sparks Woman Trying To Press Charges for Rape, Finds Herself Arrested for Battery
