PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs (SRL) announces the selection of three talented aspiring journalists for summer fellowships at their local PBS stations: Delta Flores at South Florida PBS in Miami, Florida; Micah Martin at DPTV in Detroit, Michigan; and Shakyna Golphin at WQED in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their work and training in local newsrooms honors the memory and legacy of pioneering journalist and PBS NewsHour co-anchor and managing editor Gwen Ifill. 

The summer fellowships were created in honor of award-winning anchor, reporter, and author Gwen Ifill, the former PBS NewsHour co-anchor and managing editor and Washington Week moderator and managing editor, who died in November 2016 after complications from endometrial cancer. 

Ifill became one of the nation’s most respected political journalists: the first African-American woman to moderate a vice-presidential debate and the first to host a major weekly political-affairs program. She was an early supporter and treasured mentor to middle and high school journalists in the Student Reporting Labs program.

Micah Martin, DPTV, Michigan

Micah Martin is a rising senior at L’Anse Creuse High School Macomb, Michigan. Micah participates in Student Reporting Labs through the broadcast program at F.V. Pankow Center, which focuses on career and technical education.  

Martin will spend her summer working on community storytelling with the One Detroit production team at Detroit Public Television.

“Micah’s skills as a broadcast journalism student will be significantly enhanced through the meaningful work she will embark on this summer, and I couldn’t be more proud of her,” said her teacher, SRL Connected Educator Michael Kaufman

Earlier this year, Micah participated in a WETA Well Beings event for DPTV about mental health and suicide awareness. 

“I hope to learn how to be a better, and more professional journalist to hopefully educate others when returning to school,” said Martin. 

This will be the fourth SRL internship at DPTV.

“At a time when journalism and journalists are embattled, it is inspiring to me to see the amazing young people who come to us through the Student Reporting Labs’ Gwen Ifill Fellowship,” said Ed Moore, Vice President of Content for DPTV.  

“Not only do they add valuable capacity to our team, but they bring a level of professionalism and enthusiasm that is remarkable for any age. The great Gwen Ifill would be proud of them.”                     

Delta Flores, South Florida PBS, Miami

Delta Flores is a recent graduate of Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School in Miami, Florida, where she was a part of her school’s TV production program for four years. 

“My interest in journalism and storytelling goes further than just video making. What I’d like to achieve as I progress professionally is the ability to convey someone’s story fully and accurately,” said Flores.

Last year, Flores produced a piece with her classmate Rose Hoover about a sex ed program that helps to fill in health information gaps for teens. Most recently, she participated in a Well Beings virtual event about youth mental health hosted by South Florida PBS. 

Flores believes in the power of telling underreported stories. “I come from a country where media censorship runs rampant,” she said. “I believe it is essential to present to the public factual and sensible truths that may arise from the challenges we face in our everyday lives.” 

Flores will be working with Melissa Harmon, director of production for South Florida PBS, on their signature public affairs program, Your South Florida, and will report for the program’s social media platforms. “South Florida PBS is honored to welcome Delta Flores as our Gwen Ifill Fellow this summer,” said Harmon. Delta will also work one-on-one with producers to create a segment for air as part of their August back-to-school episode.

Shakyna Golphin, WQED, Pittsburgh

Shakyna Golphin attends Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a student reporter and is involved in career and technical education programs at her school. 

Golphin was a 2020 SRL Academy Fellow, where she honed her storytelling skills and interviewed local activists. 

“I hope to learn what it’s like working in a professional environment and develop some interview skills from watching reporters in action,” said Golphin. 

Golphin will work with WQED’s production team, working remotely and helping with in-person shoots. 

“Through the years, being able to offer Fellowships to aspiring media makers has been especially gratifying for us at WQED,” said Minette Seate, supervising producer for WQED Pittsburgh.  “While we have an opportunity to share our collective technical knowledge and production experience, our Fellows continue to bring new insights, new interests and new voices to our coverage of the region.”