Houston Newsroom is a student-run reporting project based at Rice University. Our mission is simple: listen carefully to Houston and tell stories about the people, places and ideas shaping the city.

The newsroom is part of a journalism course at Rice where students work as reporters covering beats across the Houston area. Rather than simulated assignments, students report real stories. They conduct interviews, gather sound in the field and producing audio journalism supported by web text and photography. All of it is produced to public radio standards.

Each student follows a particular area of coverage. Beats include topics such as neighborhoods and place, housing and cost of living, arts and culture, transportation, health and environment, education and youth, and community organizations. The goal is not just to produce individual stories but to build sustained understanding of how Houston works.

Our work is audio-first. Most stories start as short radio-style scripts or reported audio features before being adapted into web stories. This approach reflects the traditions of public-media journalism, where careful listening, clear explanation and strong reporting guide the storytelling.

Houston Newsroom is a collaboration among KTRU Rice Radio, Rice Student Media, and Rice’s Media Studies major. It launched in 2026. Stories produced by students are published here and broadcast on KTRU, connecting campus journalism with the broader Houston community.

The newsroom operates much like a small professional outlet. Students pitch ideas, revise scripts, collaborate with editors and work toward publication. The emphasis is on thoughtful reporting, accuracy and growth as journalists.

Houston Newsroom is directed by Dr. Chris Evans, executive director of student media at Rice University and founder of the award-winning Illinois Public Media Student Newsroom. The work we do in Houston Newsroom reflects Rice’s broader commitment to student journalism and public-interest storytelling.

Houston is one of the most dynamic and complex cities in the United States. Our reporters pay attention to that complexity. We’re excited to share what we discover with the wider community.

Stay tuned to this page for more about the reporters bringing you the news.