About the Civic Studio

The Journalistic Learning Initiative

The Journalistic Learning Initiative (JLI) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering students to discover their voice, improve academic outcomes, and engage in self-directed learning through project-based storytelling. Since 2015, JLI has spread to support teachers and students in 21 states.

Founded on the belief that every student has something meaningful to say, JLI equips teachers with the frameworks, tools, and professional development they need to bring authentic, inquiry-driven journalism into their classrooms — across ELA, Social Studies, Civics, and beyond.

JLI's approach is built on four core principles: relevance, discovery, sharing, and collaboration — turning students from passive content consumers into self-determined civic storytellers.

The Civic Studio

The Civic Studio is JLI's platform for publishing and amplifying original civic journalism created by students across the country. It serves two audiences:

Why It Matters

At a time when local news is shrinking and civic trust is declining, student journalists offer something rare: authentic, community-rooted perspectives on the issues that shape their lives. The Student Voice Project bridges the gap between schools and newsrooms — creating a pipeline for youth voices to reach real audiences while deepening students' civic engagement and media literacy skills.

When students see their stories published, shared, and read — something transformative happens. They begin to understand that their informed perspective matters.

AI Transparency

AI Transparency: JLI Civic Studio uses artificial intelligence to generate Civic Briefs, Teacher Guides, and Student Handouts, and to help adapt language, diction, and reading levels for different grade levels. All materials are based on verified source material, reviewed by JLI staff, and edited for accuracy, clarity, and educational use. AI supports the process but does not replace human editorial judgment.