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RadioActive Youth Media

Listen | Workshops | Contributors | Connect | Apply

Hear Stories By RadioActive Youth Media Journalists

RadioActive is the youth media program at KUOW where youth delight in discovering public radio journalism. RadioActive supports young people’s growth as media makers by sharing access to public radio’s knowledge, skills and institutions.


Workshops

RadioActive is proud to offer award-winning youth journalism and radio storytelling workshops throughout the year. Our approach is to provide interactive, collaborative workshops where participants learn the technical, social and emotional skills needed to amplify the stories that matter to them.

Our philosophy is that youth voices are powerful and not heard often enough.

Our Intro to Radio Journalism Workshop for 15-18 year olds is a fun, challenging, hands-on experience that lasts 6-14 weeks. Participants learn about journalism, audio recording, audio editing, interviewing, script writing, speaking on the air. They work with professional journalists at KUOW. They gain confidence and leadership skills in a supportive environment while collaborating with other participants to make radio stories and episodes for the RadioActive podcast on topics they choose. There is no experience necessary, and participants are paid for successfully completing the program. Learn how to apply for our next intro workshop.

RadioActive's intro workshop is the entry point to our Advanced Producer Program, a year-round, paid opportunity for people 15-20 years old to collaborate on youth-led radio productions, community engagement and leadership experiences. Advanced producers create radio content and events and host the RadioActive podcast.

Through our community workshops, RadioActive serves nearly 900 young people a year at more than 25 schools and community organizations. In these short-term programs, youth discover public radio journalism, learn basic radio storytelling skills, and share their voice.

We prioritize working with communities without ready access to media platforms and/or who are underserved by high quality arts programs. 

Mobile workshops typically last 45-60 minutes and teach a specific radio skill, like interviewing and audio recording, "writing for the ear," or storytelling.

In pop-up workshops, youth spend a day to a week learning technical and storytelling skills and producing their own short audio stories, mentored by radio professionals and advanced youth producers.

Request a RadioActive mobile workshop in your school or organization, or find out more about our community pop-up workshop program.

A RadioActive participant conducting an interview at Pike Place Market in Seattle.

Help us spread the word: post this flier next to the closest water fountain!

Subscribe to the RadioActive podcast and connect with RadioActive on Facebook!


2018 Summer Introduction to Journalism Workshop

Row 1: Acacia, Annika, Braeden, Cienne and Enya. Row 2: Hannah, Jadenne, Josh, Kamil and Kenny. Row 3: Keya, Leila, Lila, Medha and Meghana. Row 4: Mimi, Selam, Tre, Will and Zack.
Credit KUOW PHOTO
Row 1: Acacia, Annika, Braeden, Cienne and Enya. Row 2: Hannah, Jadenne, Josh, Kamil and Kenny. Row 3: Keya, Leila, Lila, Medha and Meghana. Row 4: Mimi, Selam, Tre, Will and Zack.

Read more about our workshop participants

Connect With RadioActive

Community Partnerships
Many of RadioActive’s after-school sessions are offered in partnership with community organizations in the Seattle area. Past community partners have included the Metrocenter YMCA, South Park Community Center and Rainier Scholars. If your organization is interested in partnering with RadioActive for a future workshop, please contact Lila Kitaeff.

Community Workshops
RadioActive also presents engaging lessons on storytelling, interviewing, audio editing or other radio skills to schools and youth-serving organizations around the Puget Sound region, free of charge. We provide all materials (equipment, handouts, curriculum), you just bring the youth! Please contact Lila to schedule a workshop for an hour, a week or anywhere in between.

Questions about RadioActive? Want to find out more? Email RadioActive or contact our staff:

Apply

Admission to RadioActive sessions is selective. Youth apply by pitching a story and go through an interview process before being accepted.

​Applications for RadioActive’s Summer 2018 Intro to Radio Journalism Workshop are now closed. Our next Intro Workshop will be offered in Summer 2019.

Sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with RadioActive and be the first to know about upcoming workshops!

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