RadioActive Youth Media Workshop Application
Fall Session
October 20, 2015 – January 21, 2016
At the Columbia Branch of the Seattle Public Library
**APPLICATIONS DUE BY 11:59PM ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th**
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, challenging, 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 October 20, 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.
· Youth who want to gain confidence and leadership skills.
· 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:
· We’ll have an orientation meeting on Friday, October 9th from 9:30am-1pm.
· The workshop starts on Tues, Oct 20, 2015 and ends on Thurs, Jan 21, 2016.
· Workshop meetings are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00-7:00pm.
· We also meet from 10am-4pm on the following Saturdays: October 24th, October 31st, December 5th, December 12th, and January 9th.
· Workshop winter break (no meetings): December 18th-January 4th.
· Workshops are held at the Columbia Branch of Seattle Public Library at 4721 Rainier Ave. S, Seattle 98118. Transportation for fieldtrips is provided.
· A final, public celebration will take place on Thursday, January 28th. Location TBD.
· The Columbia Branch of the Seattle Public Library is accessible by Metro bus routes 7, 8, 9, and 50, as well as the Link Light Rail Columbia City Station.
WHAT YOU GET FOR PARTICIPATING:
· Improve your communication skills – writing, speaking, and listening.
· Work with professional journalists.
· Build your confidence by taking on a new challenge!
· 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.
· Gain leadership experience.
· RadioActive provides snacks for students, and bus tickets as needed.
· This is a paid opportunity – youth who complete the program earn a $375 stipend.
· By finishing the workshop, you earn the opportunity to keep making radio at KUOW as an advanced producer!
EXPECTATIONS:
· Come on time and stay for the whole workshop. Attendance to all workshops and fieldtrips is mandatory.
· Complete 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 be admitted to this workshop, you must legally be able to work in the United States. You will be asked to provide documents showing that you are 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.
Are you legally able to work in the United States? Yes I’m not sure
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 October 20, 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 From an organization I belong to. Organization:
ÿ From an adult mentor/teacher/relative. Name/organization: ______
ÿ Someone from RadioActive came to my school/organization.
Name of school or organization: ______
ÿ On KUOW-FM (94.9).
ÿ On KUOW.org.
ÿ On social media. Which platform and page?______
ÿ A RadioActive graduate. Name:______
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) My good friend, Alejandra. She is a freshman at UW-Bothell and is an undocumented student in the process of realizing her academic dreams.
What does s/he do in the story you will create? Alejandra has just applied for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) which would allow her to legally work in the US. She is also constantly applying for scholarships to fund her tuition at UW-Bothell.
Why does s/he do that? What is his/her motivation? It would allow her to help her mom and herself financially. Alejandra views college as an opportunity she cannot forsake because not everyone in Guatemala (where she’s from) has that opportunity.
Why do you think your story will hold listeners’ attention? Seattle is one of the most lenient cities in the country when it comes to immigrants. We have a pretty plentiful population of immigrants here and also it’s an issue that affects all of us, whether directly or indirectly.
Who will you interview and why? Alejandra, her mom, some of her friends, and her college prep advisor to get a lot of different perspectives of how hard she works and the challenges she faces.
What sounds will you record? The typing of a computer keyboard to represent her work with scholarships. Police sirens, to illustrate the grave danger she is in. Her family talking to each other in Spanish, just chilling to represent that she’s just an ordinary kid.
WHAT KIND OF STORIES DO RADIOACTIVE PRODUCERS MAKE?
Follow these links for stories from past workshops. Get inspired by what you can create!
· ‘Young and Undocumented in America’ by Carlos Nieto: http://bit.ly/1Djt1qZ
· ‘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. Drop off / mail your application to the Seattle Public Library:
Attn: Richard Counsil
Seattle Public Library – Columbia Branch
4721 Rainier Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98118
4. Drop off / mail your completed application to KUOW:
Attn: RadioActive – 2015 Fall 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 September 18th 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 Saturday, September 19th. If you don’t hear back from us by the evening of the 19th, please contact us.
· Selected applicants will be asked to come in for an interview with RadioActive. Finalist interviews will take place Sep 24-30 at the Columbia Branch of SPL.
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!
- Lila Kitaeff, Program Producer – / (206) 543-6414
- Jenny Asarnow, Program Producer – / (206) 616-4410
- Ann Kane, Production Assistant – / (206) 616-0706
Email your completed application to or fill it out at http://kuow.org/radioactive-youth-media#apply by 11:59pm on Friday, September 18th. OR mail it to/drop it off at KUOW Public Radio or the Columbia Branch of the Seattle Public Library. Paper applications must ARRIVE by the end of the work day on September 18th, 2015.
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