If you’re a high school student in Trussville or Clay looking for hands-on experience in journalism and media, there’s still time to apply for the Starnes Media Creator Collective.
The deadline for students at Hewitt-Trussville High School and Clay-Chalkville High School has been extended to April 30, 2025, giving more students the opportunity to be part of this elite mentorship program.
The Creator Collective is a hands-on learning experience designed for high school students interested in journalism, writing, photography, videography and digital media. Participants will contribute to Cahaba Sun and other Starnes Media publications while working alongside experienced journalists and industry professionals.
Selected students will create published articles, multimedia content and social media projects while attending monthly workshops and receiving mentorship from media professionals.
WHO CAN APPLY
The program is open to:
Current sophomores and juniors who will be juniors and seniors in the 2025-26 academic year.
Homeschooled students and students from private schools in Trussville and Clay are also eligible to apply.
Current high school seniors (graduating in May 2025) are not eligible for the Trussville extension, as the program begins in the fall of 2025.
HOW TO APPLY
Students must submit:
A completed application form
A writing or multimedia sample
A letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor
Applications are reviewed based on:
Creativity and storytelling ability
Commitment to the program’s mission
Potential for growth
Availability to participate in workshops and cover events
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to video conference interviews between May 1-3, with final selections announced on May 10, 2025.
Students will gain practical experience in journalism and media production, including:
Writing news and feature articles
Producing videos and digital content
Managing social media coverage
Conducting interviews and covering live events
Additionally, the program will focus on life skills development, such as:
Résumé building
College and internship guidance
Financial literacy
Networking and personal branding
Time management and balancing creative and technical skills
The Trussville students will participate for the full 2025-26 academic year, beginning in August 2025. They will not participate in the spring 2025 session but will join all workshops, mentorship sessions and media opportunities when the program resumes in the fall.
Students selected from Hewitt-Trussville and Clay-Chalkville will join those chosen in March from other communities served by Starnes Media publications when the program resumes in fall 2025.
“This year’s selection process was incredibly competitive,” said Tim Stephens, general manager of Starnes Media and executive director of the Creator Collective. “We received applications from an outstanding group of young journalists, and we’re thrilled to extend this opportunity to students in Trussville and Clay. The Creator Collective is designed to give young media creators a world-class mentorship experience that will help them develop as professionals and storytellers.”
Students already selected for the Creator Collective include:
Kinleigh Freeman, Mountain Brook High School (Class of 2026)
Evelyn Lee, Mountain Brook High School (Class of 2026)
Harper Wilbanks, Mountain Brook High School (Class of 2027)
Cameron Johnson, Hoover High School (Class of 2025)
Willow Smith, Hoover High School (Class of 2025)
Daniela Marie Sollano, Spain Park High School (Class of 2026)
Leyton McCarn, Spain Park High School (Class of 2027)
Baker Stewart, Vestavia Hills High School (Class of 2026)
Landon Page, Vestavia Hills High School (Class of 2025)
Corra Maddox, Vestavia Hills High School (Class of 2026)
Allie Rezek, Alabama School of Fine Arts (Class of 2027)
Kaiden Boykin, Alabama School of Fine Arts (Class of 2026)
Luke Miller, Chelsea High School (Class of 2026)
Miyelani Mathebula, Homewood High School (Class of 2027)
Don’t miss this chance to gain real-world journalism and media experience while building your skills for college and future careers. Submit your application here.
