The Salt Lake Tribune Launches Statewide America 250 Teen Project
The Salt Lake Tribune, alongside partners Spy Hop and Amplify Utah, has launched a statewide digital initiative inviting Utah teenagers to share their personal perspectives on the American dream through writing, photography, and video. Funded by the American Journalism Project, the special project at sltrib.com/america-250 aims to capture youth voices from all 29 Utah counties as the state records rapid social and economic changes.
High School Students Contribute Statewide Perspectives
Organizers reached out to schools, libraries, youth councils, and 4-H clubs to collect student submissions. Teachers, advisors, and mayors helped connect interested students with reporters, while a teacher in Kanab incorporated the prompt into a family heritage research assignment. The project features essays from diverse corners of the state, examining subjects ranging from local history to personal identity.
Sean Yamada, a student writer, focused his submission on Chinese transcontinental railroad workers to highlight their overlooked contributions to Utah history.
Even though these men sound and look different from us, they too have families, homes, and lives to sing about,
Yamada stated, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
Emma Dart, a senior from Helper, used her essay to emphasize the value of self-acceptance for young people. Andrew Madsen, a senior from Fairview, drew parallels between Mormon pioneers and modern immigrants, while Bountiful senior John Alley Jr. explored his views on the civic duty to protest.
Mentorship and Free Access for Educators
Winners of the contest receive $100 alongside professional mentorship sessions focused on writing, storytelling, and media ethics. Tribune reporters such as Samantha Moilanen have met with students across districts to discuss responsible sourcing and how to distinguish facts from misinformation in digital media. Participating educators are actively using the student essays in their classrooms, and The Salt Lake Tribune has made the entire project collection free to read without a membership requirement.
Unfilled County Submissions and Open Access Changes
While submissions continue to arrive from numerous districts, organizers report that entries are still pending from several specific regions, including Daggett, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Morgan, Piute, Summit, Wasatch, and Wayne counties. The broader sltrib.com platform remains accessible without a subscription, a shift implemented by the nonprofit newsroom to maintain public access to independent local journalism amidst rising misinformation.
Answers to Common Questions About the Teen Project
Who is funding the America 250 teen project?
The initiative receives financial support from the American Journalism Project, working in partnership with The Salt Lake Tribune, Spy Hop, and Amplify Utah.
What do the contest winners receive for their entries?
Winners receive a $100 cash prize paired with direct mentorship meetings with professional journalists to refine their writing and explore media ethics.
Which Utah counties still have open submissions?
Organizers are currently seeking submissions from students in Daggett, Duchesne, Garfield, Grand, Morgan, Piute, Summit, Wasatch, and Wayne counties.
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