KUOW's RadioActive Youth Media is proud to offer our summer journalism workshop. Eight teens, aged 16-18, will spend six weeks learning what it means to be a journalist.
During that time, they'll gain the skills to create radio stories. They'll do all of the research, interviews, writing, voicing and editing to produce their own feature stories and podcasts on topics of their choice.
Aisha Burka, Sophomore, Franklin High School
Being a teen in 2015, social media plays a big role in our lives. We all know there are conflicts on massive topics happening daily on social media that many people decided to not speak upon. So at Franklin High, we have QTV (Quaker TV). I decided to pitch an idea to some of my fellow classmates about social injustice, which made it as a segment on QTV. I’m also involved with a couple of youth committees and in the process, I learned about public speaking and working as a team, which means having everyone’s voice be heard. This has helped me narrow down what I really want to do with my life. Which is journalism, and being in the medical field as an Oromo, Muslim, Female.
Mimansa Dogra, Junior, Interlake High School
I am a speaker, writer and reader. I am on the school debate team, part of the marching band and a softball player. I love volunteering and try to be as active as possible in my community. I spend most of my free time (which is admittedly not much) curled up with a good book and chocolate ice cream, listening to Santana or Led Zeppelin. I appreciate the power of stories and am excited to learn more about radio journalism.
[asset-audio[{"description": "Listen to a story about Mimansa Dogra by Paul Paradise. ", "fid": "119151", "uri": "public://201507/mimansa_by_jack.mp3"}]]Julia Furukawa, Junior, Garfield High School
I am a born and bred Seattleite with a deep appreciation for public radio, instilled in me by my parents throughout my childhood. I am a dedicated member of Garfield’s branch of the Congress of Racial Equality and a strong advocate of social justice. When I’m not busy I love to hike and listen to music, and I am an avid runner. My biggest goal related to working at KUOW is to use this opportunity to educate others.
[asset-audio[{"description": "Listen to a story about Julia Furukawa by Rogelia Sanchez Matamoros.", "fid": "119152", "uri": "public://201507/julia_by_rogelia.mp3"}]]Lola Garcia, Junior, Arts and Academics Academy
I’ve always loved to write, and I look forward to the different feel of pens and pencils on paper. I could write for hours on a topic I know almost nothing about. I’ve written plenty of four-page essays with the minimum requirements being only five paragraphs. Art is a huge part of my life and living in the city I get inspired to create as many different types of art like drawing, painting and collage-type pieces. Photography is my main art skill. I love capturing moments -- either quickly on my phone or on a DSLR camera (fancy, expensive camera). I’m really big on saving memories. Expressing myself through art and writing is the best way to really know me. I’m a very independent person, and I love just roaming around the city by myself, even if all I have is $3 in my pocket. I love to experience and just live in the moment. Oddly enough, I’ve never had any paths I’ve wanted to follow. As long as I’m happy and healthy, I don’t need anything else in my life. Enjoying my life to the fullest is my goal and dream. I look forward to my future and what it holds.
[asset-audio[{"description": "Listen to a story about Lola Garcia by Aisha Burka.", "fid": "119153", "uri": "public://201507/lola_by_aisha.mp3"}]]Paul Kiefer, Junior, University Prep
I grew up in Seattle, and this city is a huge part of my identity. I have also traveled extensively, and I carry a bit of Seattle with me wherever I go; my fast, slurred semi accent, and my collection of unusual button-up shirts. My mind wanders often to places I would like to visit: Kosovo, Senegal, Syria, etc. I learned about the world thought travel, non-fiction, radio and documentaries, and I have dreams of being in an assortment of countries. I have tried to write multiple books, but I have only finished the first chapters. My goal (one of my goals, I should say) is to finish one of them. I am a part of the local community organizing group Youth Undoing Institutional Racism and that is essential to my social and philosophical understanding of the world. I am also a Muslim, and I am always trying to be more faithful. I hope to study Islamic law one day, Inshallah. I dream of fatherhood because I am close to my own father and I try to behave in a way that I would want my children to behave (though I am not perfect at it).
[asset-audio[{"description": "Listen to a story about Paul Kiefer by Gerardo Ramos.", "fid": "119154", "uri": "public://201507/paul_by_gerardo.mp3"}]]Jack Paradise, Junior, Tacoma School of the Arts
Most of us spend a lot of our time at home, myself included. I was talking with my neighbor Lauren the other day over a chocolate milk, and we were trying to comprehend the mass of all of the activities we had ever performed in our downtime, she said that she "reads a lot, paints, and cleans around." It took me a long while before I concluded that I pretty much wander aimlessly, paying attention solely to my radio. Radio lends itself perfectly to my love of unique and unusual individuals whose stories frequent the airwaves. I can empathize with their plight for understanding and distinct perspective. I am often told I'm a weird guy. I also enjoy reading Thomas Pynchon novels (what a dude!), making stop motion shorts and biking my way around town. I look forward to my time at KUOW and so I can contribute to the world of radio journalism I myself so enjoy.
[asset-audio[{"description": "Listen to a story about Jack Paradise by Mimansa Dogra. ", "fid": "119155", "uri": "public://201507/jack_by_mimansa.mp3"}]]Gerardo Ramos, Junior, TAF Academy
I’ve always been a shy person when I don’t know somebody really well, but when we get to know each other better I become an outgoing person. I’ve always loved to read fiction stories about immigrants and what they go through, and I feel like I have a bond with writing stories and what happens in my daily day life. I love sports especially, soccer and football, and I always wanted to be one of the people who talk during the whole game and yell ‘GOAL.’ I’m interested in trying out something, dealing with being a journalist and working in the radio one day -- and why not have my own program? I believe that stories have a positive meaning to people and can make someone’s life change in a positive way and also open doors to people who don’t see themselves in the place that they want to be. One of my biggest passions is creating positive acts through making stories and letting people see how I as an immigrant see the world. The quote that I think of everyday when I wake up is "be the change you want to see in the world,"and I want to take journalism in a positive route and inspire thousands of kids.
[asset-audio[{"description": "Listen to a story about Gerardo Ramos by Paul Kiefer.", "fid": "119150", "uri": "public://201507/gerardo_by_paul.mp3"}]]Rogelia Sanchez Matamoros, Senior, Mount Vernon High School.
I am from Mount Vernon. I value my family and my church. I have a close relationship with them. I speak English, Mixtec and some Spanish. I am in Running Start. I enjoy being at Skagit Valley College, I take my school seriously, I am passionate about graduating early from high school. My goal for the future is to graduate from college, get my AA degree and transfer to a four-year university which would be Western Washington University.
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