RadioActive Youth Media Workshop Application
Spring Session
February 10 – April 30, 2015
At KUOW on 45th & University Way in Seattle
**APPLICATIONS DUE BY 11:59PM ON WED, JAN 21**
Experience Radio Journalism!
WHAT IS RADIOACTIVE YOUTH MEDIA?
RadioActive is a program of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. We create a space where youth delight in discovering public radio journalism and support young people’s growth as media makers by sharing access to public radio’s knowledge, skills, and institutions.
In this fun, rigorous, and hands-on workshop you’ll learn about journalism, audio recording, audio editing, interviewing, writing for broadcast, and speaking on the air. You’ll collaborate with other workshop participants to create feature radio stories on the topics you choose. These stories will be posted on KUOW.org and shared at a public listening party! This is a paid opportunity and graduates can remain involved in RadioActive beyond this workshop.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
· Young people age 16-18. You must be 16 years old as of Feb 10, 2015.
· Youth who are excited to use digital media to tell true stories.
· Youth who are engaged in the world and are always asking questions.
· Youth who are strong writers and want to express themselves through sound.
· No previous broadcasting or journalism experience is necessary!
· Note: This program is not a platform to promote a cause or a point of view. It’s a journalism program where you learn about a subject and share all sides of the story.
Program Details – WHEN AND WHERE:
· The program starts on Tues, Feb 10, 2015 and ends on Thurs, April 30, 2015.
· Workshop meetings are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00-7:00pm.
· All-day workshop meetings are held on Saturday February 14th, Tuesday February 17th, and Saturday April 18th.
· Workshops are held at KUOW’s studios at 4518 University Way NE Suite 310, Seattle 98105. Transportation for field trips is provided.
· A final, public celebration will take place on Tuesday, May 5th at KUOW.
· KUOW is accessible by Metro bus routes 30, 43, 44, 48, 49, 71, 72, 73, and 373.
WHAT YOU GET FOR PARTICIPATING:
· Improve your communication skills – writing, speaking, and listening.
· Learn how to give and receive feedback in a collaborative and creative environment.
· Develop time management skills, and meet deadlines in a professional setting.
· Be a part of a supportive, collaborative, and fun group of young people.
· Work with professional journalists.
· Build your confidence by taking on a new challenge!
· RadioActive provides snacks for students, and bus tickets as needed.
· This is a paid opportunity – youth who complete the program earn a $375 stipend.**
· Youth who complete the program will receive a 1-year subscription to Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite, including Audition audio editing software (a $360 value).
· Youth who complete the program will be eligible to apply for a four-year college scholarship provided by the Adobe Foundation.
EXPECTATIONS:
· Come on time and stay for the whole workshop. Attendance to all workshops and field trips is mandatory.
· Complete outside work on time (you’ll put in extra time to complete your stories).
· Work on your own and in small groups.
· Treat your mentors, peers, selves, equipment, and meeting space with respect.
· Have fun, be creative, and take risks!
PROGRAM APPLICATION
Please fill out completely and have your parent/guardian sign on the following page.
In order to participate in this workshop, you must be one of the following: a citizen or national of the US, a lawful permanent resident, an alien authorized to work in the US, or a non-resident alien by courtesy appointment. Documentation will be required.
Your full legal name: ______
What name do you prefer to be called? ______
Your phone number: ( ) Is this a cell or home phone?
Your email: Preference: text, phone, or email?
Your address: City: Zip:
How old are you as of Feb 10, 2015? Birthday: ______
What school do you attend (if any)? What grade?
Have you applied to RadioActive before?______
Name of parent/guardian:
Parent/guardian’s daytime phone number: ( )
Parent/guardian’s email:
Reference (adult mentor or teacher not related to you):
Relation of reference to you (i.e. “my English teacher”):
Reference’s daytime phone number (with area code): ( )
Reference’s email:
How did you hear about this program? Please check all that apply.
ÿ At a RadioActive event.
ÿ From an organization I belong to. Organization:
ÿ From a relative. How did they hear about it? ______
ÿ From an adult mentor/teacher. Name/organization: ______
ÿ On KUOW-FM (94.9).
ÿ On KUOW.org.
ÿ On social media. Which platform?______
ÿ A RadioActive graduate
ÿ An adult heard about it on KUOW or KUOW.org and told me about it.
ÿ Other. Please specify:
Please briefly answer the following questions:
Why do you want to be a part of this program? How do you think this program will help you reach your goals?
Is there anything else you want us to know about you? Why do you think you should be accepted into RadioActive’s workshop?
Parental permission for applicants under age 18:
I UNDERSTAND THE TIME COMMITMENT OF THIS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT MY CHILD IN APPLYING FOR RADIOACTIVE - parents may also email their permission to
Parent/guardian Signature:
[Application continues on next page]
PITCH US A STORY
RadioActive is a radio workshop where you learn how to tell TRUE stories using sound. So pitch us a story! That means: propose a story that you want to tell, and that other people will want to hear. What touches your heart, inspires you, confuses you, or makes you mad? What do people need to hear about? Who is someone you want to learn more about?
The best stories are ones that mean something to you. Try to think of a story about someone that you could talk to in person.
Here’s an example pitch from a successful past RadioActive application:
Who is this story about? (just one person- NOT an organization) Cayden Harmon is a high school student. Recently he has come out as a female-to-male transgender.
What does s/he do in the story you will create? As part of his transition, he’s taken a new name and after consulting with his parents, he is beginning to take testosterone and other medication toward full transition to male.
Why does s/he do that? What is his/her motivation? Because he’s always felt like a boy in a girl’s body. This is his identity.
Why do you think your story will hold listeners’ attention? Because there are substantial amounts of transgender youth in Seattle but we rarely hear their voice. This is also a story that many people connect with because it’s about a teenager becoming the person they’ve always felt they were. Even non-trans people can relate.
Who will you interview and why? I will interview Cayden, his mom, and some of his friends to find out what Cayden was like when he was female and what they notice now that he’s male. They can share how the transition has affected them, and what changes they notice physically, mentally, and socially.
What sounds will you record? I will record Cayden reading a letter he wrote to everyone he knew at the beginning of his transition last summer. It’s essentially his “coming out” explanation. I’ll also record sounds of Cayden injecting testosterone.
WHAT KIND OF STORIES DO RADIOACTIVE PRODUCERS MAKE?
Follow these links for stories from past workshops. Get inspired by what you can create!
· ‘What Are Little Boys Made of?’ by Nina Tran: http://bit.ly/X2SiZ6
· ‘Life Of A Sneakerhead’ by Mohamed Mohamed http://bit.ly/1oel4Rz
· ‘Rejected by Target,’ by Alicia Quarles http://bit.ly/1zVMvCw
· ‘Fighting Foreclosure’ by Kendra Hanna http://bit.ly/XFr6iY
· ‘Peace at Foster High’ by Ardo Hersi http://bit.ly/X2SHe8
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN! Please fill in the blanks on the following page with your story idea. Don’t forget that this must be a true story, not one that you’ve made up. It’s ok to ask for help or ideas, but the words should be your own. Good luck, have fun, and get excited about producing these stories!
[Application continues on next page]
PITCH #1 FOR A TRUE STORY THAT YOU WANT TO TELL ON THE RADIO (Required)
Who is this story about? (Just one person – NOT an organization. Try to think of someone you could talk to in person.)
What does s/he do in the story you will create?
Why does s/he do that? What is his/her motivation?
Why do you think your story will hold listeners’ attention?
Who will you interview and why?
What sounds will you record?
Tell us more about this story. What do you hope to learn? Why is this interesting to you?
PITCH #2 FOR A TRUE STORY THAT YOU WANT TO TELL ON THE RADIO (Optional)
Who is this story about? (Just one person – NOT an organization. Try to think of someone you could talk to in person.)
What does s/he do in the story you will create?
Why does s/he do that? What is his/her motivation?
Why do you think your story will hold listeners’ attention?
Who will you interview and why?
What sounds will you record?
Tell us more about this story. What do you hope to learn? Why is this interesting to you?
FOUR WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:
1. Email your application to .
2. Fill out the application online at http://kuow.org/radioactive-youth-media#apply.
3. Mail your completed application (or drop it off) to KUOW:
Attn: RadioActive – 2015 Spring Session
KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio
4518 University Way NE, Suite 310
Seattle, WA 98105-4535
We must receive your application by 11:59pm on January 21st in order for your application to be considered (this is NOT a postmark deadline).
· You can expect to hear back from us with confirmation that we have received your application by Thursday, January 22nd. If you don’t hear back from us by the evening of the 22nd, please contact us.
· Selected applicants will be asked to come in for an interview with RadioActive. Finalist interviews will take place Jan 28-30 at KUOW’s studios.
Please note that due to limited space and a large number of applicants, completing an application and interview does not guarantee admission into RadioActive.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Jenny Asarnow, Program Producer – / (206)-616-4410
- Lila Kitaeff, Program Producer – / (206) 543-6414
- Ann Kane, Program Assistant –
Email your completed application to or fill it out at http://kuow.org/radioactive-youth-media#apply by 11:59pm on Wednesday, January 21. OR mail it to/drop it off at KUOW Public Radio, 4518 University Way NE Suite 310, 98105. Paper applications must ARRIVE at KUOW by 5pm on January 21, 2015.
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