During spring semester 2020, student-journalists focused on Salt Lake City’s west-side neighborhoods: Ball Park, Fairpark, Glendale, Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove, Rose Park, Westpointe.

And then, life changed.

The COVID-19 outbreak worsened in the United States in early March 2020 and by mid March, the University of Utah — like many US institutions — shifted all courses to online platforms due to the pandemic. Despite the challenges of completing the last five weeks of the semester online, the Voices of Utah reporters persevered and completed most of their beat reporting.

The student-journalsts were: Spencer Buchanan; Meg Clasper; Ellie Cook; Roberto Elguera; Liam Elkington; Kathryn A. Hackman; Palak Jayswal; Martin Kuprianowicz; Ivana Martinez; Cheyenne Peterson; Cassandra Rosenkrantz; Jacob Rueda; Alison Tanner; Hunter Thornburg; Nina Yu.

Find links to their stories and read their blogs and bios by clicking on a name above, or by selecting Blogs & Bios from the drop-down box, at left. Stories also can be located by clicking on a Tag or selecting a topic such as Education from the Categories box.

Students also covered Salt Lake City’s west side during fall semester 2011. Their wide-ranging stories focused on topics including: Salt Lake Donated Dental Services and its lottery system; Head Start‘s efforts to prepare healthy meals for children; the Sorenson Unity Center‘s mission of computer literacy; and the Homeless Outreach Program, facilitated by Utah’s arm of Volunteers of America.

Back row, from left Nathaniel Bingaman, Collin McLachlin, Tom Betar, Derek Siddoway Johanna Wischmann, Brooke Mangum. From row, from left: Professor Kimberley Mangun, Cecelia Fennell, Melanie Holbrook, Ryan McDonald, Shelly Guillory. Photo by Karen Klc.

Student-journalists included: Tom Betar; Nathaniel Bingaman; Cecelia Fennell; Shelly Guillory; Melanie Holbrook; Brooke Mangum; Ryan McDonald; Collin McLachlan; Laura Schmitz; Derek Siddoway; Johanna Wischmann.

Find links to their stories and read their blogs and bios by clicking on a name above, or by selecting Blogs & Bios from the drop-down box, at left. Stories also can be located by clicking on a Tag or selecting a topic such as Education from the Categories box.