Youth-led media
Encyclopedia
Youth-led media is any effort created, planned, implemented, and reflected upon by young people in the form of media
, including websites, newspapers, television shows and publications.
, U.S.
by the publishing arm of a left-wing, teen-led organization called Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor
, which existed from 1970 to 1980. One of its founders went on to form the New York City-based Youth Communication, a youth-led media program for young people in foster care. Another organization in the early movement was Children's Express
, which operates programs around the world.
In the early 1990s this movement gained new expression in the United States in response to growing media bias
against youth, i.e. the hyper-sensationalization of youth violence ala "superpredators", and continued to grow due to the "Columbine" shootings. The first online, teen-written newspaper, The Tattoo, began in 1994 with a promise of giving voice to teens. This movement features hundreds of individuals and organizations working across the United States to promote the roles of young people in society and in the media. Demonstrating the wide reach of youth-led media a program in Oakland, California
called Youth Radio
has been featured across national media outlets in the U.S., including NPR and PBS. Other examples include the Blunt Youth Radio Project
provides an hour-long, weekly, youth-produced public affairs radio show on WMPG
in Portland, Maine
. A general interest magazine called Nang!
is produced and distributed on a quarterly basis to 14-21 year olds in London
. Speak Africa is a Pan-African youth-produced multi-media communication initiative that works in print, radio, TV, the Internet and community theatre, and the Vera Project is an all-ages, non-profit youth music organization in Seattle, Washington
.
There are currently youth-led media programs and organizations around the world, including Central and South America, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, including websites, newspapers, television shows and publications.
Movement
These efforts form the basis of an international movement born in the early 1970s in Ann Arbor, MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the publishing arm of a left-wing, teen-led organization called Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor
Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor
Youth Liberation of Ann Arbor was an organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It existed from 1970 to 1979, and is often cited in more recent academic literature as one of the leading forerunners of several youth movements in the United States, including the youth rights movement, youth voice...
, which existed from 1970 to 1980. One of its founders went on to form the New York City-based Youth Communication, a youth-led media program for young people in foster care. Another organization in the early movement was Children's Express
Children's Express
Children’s Express was a news agency reported and edited by children and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 18.-History:CE was founded in 1975 in New York by Wall Street attorney Robert Clampitt. Intitally, CE published light and fluffy stories in its own magazine...
, which operates programs around the world.
In the early 1990s this movement gained new expression in the United States in response to growing media bias
Media bias
Media bias refers to the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the...
against youth, i.e. the hyper-sensationalization of youth violence ala "superpredators", and continued to grow due to the "Columbine" shootings. The first online, teen-written newspaper, The Tattoo, began in 1994 with a promise of giving voice to teens. This movement features hundreds of individuals and organizations working across the United States to promote the roles of young people in society and in the media. Demonstrating the wide reach of youth-led media a program in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
called Youth Radio
Youth Radio
Youth Media International better known as Youth Radio is a youth-based non-profit media outlet based in Oakland, California. From its beginning until May 2007, it was located in Berkeley, California. It has won various awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award and the Peabody Award in 2001...
has been featured across national media outlets in the U.S., including NPR and PBS. Other examples include the Blunt Youth Radio Project
Blunt Youth Radio Project
Blunt Youth Radio Project is one of the oldest and most decorated youth media programs in the United States. It's a weekly, youth produced public affairs radio show on WMPG in Portland, Maine. The hour-long show features two teen hosts who interview guests on topical issues. The team's reporters...
provides an hour-long, weekly, youth-produced public affairs radio show on WMPG
WMPG
WMPG is a community radio station broadcasting from Portland, Maine. It is located on Bedford Street at the University of Southern Maine Portland Campus. It is affiliated with the college, and is a mix of USM Students and volunteers from the greater Portland community that produce all the music and...
in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. A general interest magazine called Nang!
Nang!
Nang! is a general interest magazine based in Aldgate, London. Aimed at 14-21 year olds, the magazine is free and is distributed at sixth forms, colleges, universities, libraries and Connexions centres in the London area on a quarterly basis...
is produced and distributed on a quarterly basis to 14-21 year olds in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Speak Africa is a Pan-African youth-produced multi-media communication initiative that works in print, radio, TV, the Internet and community theatre, and the Vera Project is an all-ages, non-profit youth music organization in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
There are currently youth-led media programs and organizations around the world, including Central and South America, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
See also
- Youth-led media (category)
- Youth voiceYouth voiceYouth voice refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body. The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences...
- Youth empowermentYouth empowermentYouth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults....
External links
- Headliners
- Youth Media at TakingITGlobal
- Youth Out Loud!
- Youth Journalism International
- The 18-to-24 Bracket | a journal of youth perspectives on politics
- Uth TV, Original media created by youth for youth
- SpunOut.ie Ireland's largest national youth media organisation
- FlindersStudents, a media service for young people at uni
- One80, Canada’s largest publication circulated by youth
- Elevate foster youth empowerment program that provides youth led media, CDs, DVDs
- Nonprofit Research Collection on Youth Media Published on IssueLab
- Roundhouse Radio A radio station run exclusively by young people (under 25) broadcasting 24/7 from London's legendary venue, The Roundhouse
- PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival