Laney Journalism Student Earns National Fellowship & Full Ride

Laney College is proud to celebrate a landmark achievement by The Citizen’s co-editor in chief, Lylah Schmedel-Permanna, who has been selected as one of only three national IRE/ProPublica fellows. The prestigious fellowship includes an all-expenses-paid trip to the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Conference this June in New Orleans, where Lylah will join a select group of journalists from across the country.

The fellowship, created by ProPublica, supports U.S.-based journalists, educators, and students from underrepresented communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with disabilities.

Lylah is a Bay Area native and returning community college student. After earning a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from UC Davis and working in civil rights law, she returned to the classroom with a focus on journalism. She currently serves as managing editor of The Citizen and is a fellow with the CalMatters College Journalism Network, where she reports on California higher education. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Student Press Law Center.

In addition to her national fellowship, Lylah has been accepted into the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism with a full scholarship and annual stipend. She will begin the competitive program this fall as one of 50 students selected nationwide. Joining her are two other alumni of The Citizen, highlighting the exceptional preparation Laney’s journalism students receive.

The Citizen’s adviser, Eleni Economides Gastis, praised Lylah’s contributions to the newsroom and her broader impact on campus and in the Peralta Community College District.

Later this month, the Laney College Journalism Department will be featured in a statewide webinar hosted by the Bay Area Community College Consortium (BACCC) and Workforce Innovation Labs. The webinar will showcase standout Career Education programs across the state.

The event flyer describes the program’s rise in recent years:

"See how this small community college program transformed into a reporting powerhouse, rivaling Stanford and earning top accolades!"

These recent milestones are a testament to the talent of Laney journalism students and the strength of the department’s commitment to meaningful, community-based reporting.

For more information about journalism at Laney College, visit: laney.edu/journalism