ABOUT

My name is Stella St. Clair. I’m a multimedia/broadcast student journalist based in Atlanta, GA! I’m also seventeen years old.

I’m currently a senior at Midtown High School in Atlanta, GA. I’ve maintained an unweighted grade point average of 3.7 along with seven AP courses.

I’m currently the Executive Producer of Midtown High School’s student-run newscast, Knight View. I was previously the Chief Editor and Co-Producer. Additionally, I was formerly the sole multimedia Editor for Midtown High School’s student newspaper, the Southerner.

Although I have a primary focus in multimedia and broadcast journalism, I’ve also written award-winning opinion pieces for the Southerner. One of my pieces won All-Georgia Commentary when I was just a sophomore. This specific piece discussed the severe lack of education in the Atlanta Public School curriculum for General Health, specifically shedding light on the fact it doesn’t discuss the menstrual cycle. This piece was also awarded a Best of Sno title. You can read it here. One of my other award-winning opinion pieces was about my family and my personal adoption story.

(Photo: Lauren A. Pike)

At the end of the day, my true passion is broadcast journalism. I hope to continue exploring my passion and pursue it as a future career. I particularly enjoy the production process. I’m primarily a video editor, but I’m good with filming as well. I also have extensive experience with script writing.

However, I have recently been steered back to my first career dream: going into Government/Politics. As a little girl, I dreamed to be the first female President. I don’t think I’d want to be the President, but I feel like I could truly make a difference in politics.

Regardless of if I chose to go into Government/Politics or broadcast journalism production, I want to make a difference. I want to prove to little Stella that she can do whatever she sets her mind to– even saving the world.

(Photo: Sarah E. Freeman)

Training/Projects

In October of 2025, I had the honor of producing and editing the video for the Georgia First Amendment Foundation (GFAF)’s 2025 Charles L. Weltner Freedom of Information Award honoree. Dean of the UGA Grady School of Journalism, Charles Davis, was this year’s honoree as a result of his commitment to open government access.

To produce this video, I worked alongside Richard Griffiths, who has come to be an inspiration to me. Despite the time crunch of producing this video, I was estatic to jump on board.

You can watch the final product here.

In June of 2025, I was selected to represent the state of Georgia at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. You can read more about the conference here. You can read about my experience at the conference here.

I was flown out to D.C. to help continue Mr. Al Neuharth’s legacy. While in D.C. I got to meet many well-known journalists and hear firsthand experiences about working in the real world. It gave me perspective regarding the possible paths I can take regarding my career.

(Photo: Vincent Hsiao)

I worked on another video for GFAF. I worked alongside a colleague and the former Fox 5 I-Team Investigative Reporter, Mr. Dale Russell. I filmed interviews and edited the entirety of Ms. Sally Bethea’s tribute video. Ms. Bethea was honored at the 2024 Weltner Freedom of Information Celebration as a result of her commitment to protect the Chattahoochee River as the first Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. You can watch the final product here.

I’ve been a part of rigorous and selective broadcast journalism training programs. In 2024, I flew to D.C. to work with PBS NewsHour’s student training program, Student Reporting Labs. I was one of 24 students selected nationwide to participate in the program. You can read more about my experience here.

While I was there, I worked with a team of three student journalists and two mentors. Together, we created and produced a piece regarding an underfunded Black cemetery in Georgetown. We highlighted the fact that while there was a significant lack of funding, there wasn’t a lack of care. It ultimately ended up airing nationally on PBS NewsHour. You can watch the story here.

Personal

Aside from my journalistic work, I enjoy photography. Specifically, I love lifestyle and travel photography. I like to photograph personal events, even things as simple as simple hangouts with my friends, or something as life-changing as traveling to Portugal with my dad and his partner. You can see more of my photography here.

I also love listening to music! I like older music, but I also like newer music. I listen to a little bit of everything, but my favorites are: Joni Mitchell, Nico, The Velvet Underground, Frank Ocean, Malcolm Todd, Boko, The Smiths, Morrissey, Asher Kartman, Luke Tyler Shelton, The Beatles, etc. If you want to look at my playlists, you can do so here!

Separate from all of my work and hobbies, I love spending time with my friends. That’s a fairly basic thing to say, but I do. I love my friends.

I keep a small circle. My friendships are so much more meaningful that way. I’m able to have the confidence that my friends care for me in the same way I care for them. I truly cherish my relationships with my friends.

The relationships and friendships I have today outweigh every other aspect of my life. I can be happy knowing I have them even if my ACT score and GPA aren’t perfect. They are there for me at my higest points and my lowest, and for that, I am truly grateful.