# PBS NewsHour STEM StoryMaker: Project-based learning for youth health literacy and biomedical career awareness through journalism and storytelling

> **NIH NIH R25** · WETA TV 26 · 2024 · $270,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The need for health literacy and a diverse, socially-conscious health workforce is more evident
than ever after two and a half years navigating a global pandemic, and growing mental health
and environmental health crises. This proposal from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs
(SRL), a teen-driven program from the nation’s most trusted news source, builds from the
successes of previous SEPA work to provide high school youth with: 1.) tools to create
evidence-based and ethically responsible journalism (primarily 1-4 minute videos) about critical
health issues that impact their communities; 2.) introductions and inroads to health science
careers that use storytelling to engage a diverse range of students; and 3.) strategies for
effective communication around health science, including intergenerational dialogue and social
media best-practices, for the general public. The initiative will provide a strong foundation of
support for teens, educators, and other SEPA program leaders to produce high-quality content
distributed to peers through an extensive student journalism network, online learning platforms,
and traditional and digital broadcasting. A previous SEPA summative evaluation largely serves
as the front-end evaluation for this proposed project. Researchers at Knology will use Year 1 to
update all evaluation instruments and create a mixed-methods evaluation with students and
educators in years 2-4 of the grant for both formative and summative purposes. Findings will
measure the impact on programs and participants, including other SEPA projects, and result in
a map of the full ecosystem of health learning opportunities created during the grant period and
their effectiveness, including student-created stories, health practitioner profiles, lesson plans
and other learning opportunities. Student-produced videos will be supplemented with expertly-
crafted educational resources distributed to a wide national audience of teachers, formal and
informal educators, and STEM program leaders. Through these elements – student health
journalism, health science career content, and storytelling strategies for science communication
– the project will drive engagement and understanding around health science and public health
in young people to support an informed, inquisitive, and involved citizenry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10890031
- **Project number:** 5R25GM150172-02
- **Recipient organization:** WETA TV 26
- **Principal Investigator:** Leah Clapman
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $270,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-20 → 2025-04-01

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10890031

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10890031, PBS NewsHour STEM StoryMaker: Project-based learning for youth health literacy and biomedical career awareness through journalism and storytelling (5R25GM150172-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10890031. Licensed CC0.

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