Citizen Journalism with Youth in the Rogue Valley by Anna Ford

WATCH RECORDING: https://youtu.be/IpLWiXtiVqc

In 2024, Jackson county increased from 15% housing-insecure youth to 24%. SOPBS’s project begant to help housing-insecure youth tell their stories. And in the process, it revealed something even more critical: The instability they face makes even basic participation in structured activities nearly impossible.

This is not a failure—it is a lesson. Their voices are still here, waiting to be heard. We just need to find new ways to listen. Or rather, we just need to hear. Housing-Insecure youth need housing, that’s it, it’s that simple.

Anna Ford is the Education Manager and Youth Media Producer at Southern Oregon PBS, where she is committed to creating educational opportunities that empower the community. With a deep passion for media literacy, equity, and workforce development, Anna works to address critical regional challenges such as poverty, inclusion, and digital access.

In her role, Anna leads initiatives that expand media literacy education for all age groups, recognizing the growing need for independent thinking and 21st-century literacy skills. She is spearheading a partnership with Youth Era to offer Citizen Journalism Classes to housing-insecure youth.

Additionally, Anna is working to bridge the gap between education and employment by securing funding to support technical training and job placement for students participating in the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) program. Recognizing that financial hardship often forces students to pause their education, she is collaborating with Southern Oregon University and Work Source to develop a program that offers paid opportunities for students to earn a digital marketing and communication certification, equipping them with in-demand skills and improving their long-term career prospects.

Through her leadership at Southern Oregon PBS, Anna is dedicated to fostering a stronger, more resilient community by ensuring access to essential educational resources, workforce development programs, and media literacy training. Her work continues to strengthen connections between public media, education, and community empowerment in Southern Oregon and Northern California.

Presenter’s Website: https://www.sopbs.org

SEE ALSO: Approaching AI Summit • March 21-22 • Southern Oregon University https://anpconference.com/approaching-ai-summit-2025-ashland-or

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