Derek P. Jensen
SALT LAKE CITY — When Yara Ahmed first shuffled onto the Judge Memorial Catholic High School campus as an unsure freshman, she had designs on engineering classes, not sharing the national limelight with accomplished storytellers.
“I never expected to love journalism the way I love it now,” Ahmed said during a Zoom interview. “I never even would have thought of joining this class if not for Mr. Sloan reaching out to me.”
Dr. Chris Sloan is chairman of the JMCHS English Department; he teaches English, new media and photography, and also is the advisor to The Bulldog Press.
Fast forward three years — each dedicated to honing her writing, producing delicate television pieces and now serving as managing editor of The Bulldog Press — and Ahmed has been recognized as one of the nation’s top-20 up-and-coming storytellers under 20 by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. The award, new this year, seeks to honor the “exemplary young journalists” who met the moment.
“I was shocked, to say the least, because I didn’t think I had done anything worthy of that kind of recognition,” Ahmed said.
During her sophomore year, Ahmed produced “Women of the World,” conducting interviews in Arabic to explore how refugee families get back on their feet. The story took months, eventually landing on the PBS YouTube Channel — and on producers’ radar.
“They really, really liked that piece,” Ahmed said. “I think that’s what got their attention.”
She later penned a “cathartic” opinion piece about the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand. “It was a really emotional time for me as a Muslim,” she said.
Her passion for journalism was further fueled by seeing a reporter in a hijab, realizing she could both be represented and tell personal stories not heard in mainstream media. Later that year, Ahmed was featured in a series of PBS interviews about stories student reporters hoped to see.
“She never ceases to surprise me,” Sloan said. “She can see the story and she really understands the technology to best produce the story.”
Sloan, whose new media course and Bulldog Press publication are no stranger to awards, is quick to credit the students for any journalism accolades.
“Everybody who walks in this room — they have this deep well of talent and goodness,” Sloan said. “So just letting that happen is what I do.”
He compliments PBS, noting the nonprofit took the initiative to tell youth stories to fill the hole between Daniel Tiger-like children’s shows and sober adult documentaries. “They’re giving a massive platform for my students,” Sloan said.
As 2020 drew to a close, PBS Student Reporting Labs decided “these extraordinary times” were prime to debut the 20 under 20 list.
“We thought there was no better time than now to recognize future change makers who are already making a difference in their communities,” PBS NewsHour wrote in a blog post announcing the winners. Since 2009, Student Reporting Labs has reached more than 30,000 students prompting many to pursue careers in media.
Ahmed, who recently worked with a PBS producer outside of class to interview a scientist about COVID-19, already has an arresting resume. While working on a collaborative story about the SafeUT app, she connected with Judge Memorial alumnus Will Leavitt, once suicidal due to mental health issues, who is now a regular presenter during Judge SafeUT assemblies.
Ahmed has also ventured into the political arena, covering a townhall for former presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg and last fall’s vice presidential debate at the University of Utah.
Now with her eye on graduation and still considering an engineering degree, Ahmed admits doing journalism will always have her heart.
“I really hope to,” she said. “I’ve realized without telling these stories, I wouldn’t be as happy as I am.”
Derek P. Jensen is director of communications for Judge Memorial Catholic High School.
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