Certain media specialize in producing news by, and for, young people. "Youth media" have a unique mandate to give young people an outlet to express opinions and perspectives on issues that concern them. These media publish, distribute and transmit news, magazine articles, art, poetry and fiction, radio and video, and e-zines written and produced by youth, for a youth audience.
Some youth media outlets, such as Tiny Giant Magazine, have been around for many years. But many more have sprung up recently, thanks to the Internet. The ability to post articles, images and sound on the World Wide Web - at little cost - has made the Internet a powerful tool for young people to network and to share ideas, information and experiences.
The list of youth media below is a starting point. Some offer tool kits and resources you can download to help you develop your journalism and media skills. Others provide space where you can share opinions about issues, and read or listen to work produced by other young people.
Check the Links pages of these sites to create your own network of youth media resources and contacts.
Canadian Youth Media
Tiny Giant Magazine
http://www.tgmag.ca
TG Magazine is written mostly by Canadian teens, but it also accepts stories from young people around the world. See TG's Writers' Guidelines for information on how to submit articles.
One-80 Youth Magazine
http://www.oneeighty.ca
One-80 Youth Magazine is a newspaper format publication for youth developed by the Boys and Girls Club of York Region. The production of the magazine is managed by youth club members and the articles are written by freelance contributors between the ages of 14 –24 years. The magazine is distributed monthly in cooperation with the York Region Newspaper Group. Over 65,000 copies are distributed across York Region and parts of the Greater Toronto Area.
Redwire Magazine
http://www.redwiremag.com
Redwire Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by the Redwire Native Youth Media Society, a non-profit Canadian media and arts organization dedicated to Native youth expression. The goal of the magazine is to help Native youth find their voice by providing a forum for discussion.
The Mind, Media and the Message Festival
http://www.m3f.org
The Mind, Media and the Message Festival (M3F) is a student-lead event that is both a virtual and actual festival. The virtual festival exists in the form of a Web site that allows users to view submissions and participate in online forums. Submissions to the student multimedia festival can be made online.
U.S. Youth Media
Wire Tap
http://www.wiretapmag.org
This independent e-zine, based in San Francisco, features "investigative news articles, essays, artwork and activism resources that challenge stereotypes, inspire creativity, foster dialogue, and give young people a voice in the media." The Web site includes message boards and youth media links.
Listen Up!
http://listenup.org/
This PBS (Public Broadcasting System) project offers tools and resources to help young people learn how to research, write, produce and distribute their own media.
Youth Radio
http://www.youthradio.org
Youth Radio's interactive Web site features radio reports produced by young people.
Reel Grrls Media Project
http://www.reelgrrls.org
The Reel Grrls project is for girls ages 14-18 who have a desire to examine the image of girls in the media and learn skills to create their own media. A Seattle-based partnership between 911 Media Arts Center, the YMCA and the local PBS station, Reel Grrls teaches teenage girls how to be critical television watchers and then producers of their own media.
Generation PRX
http://generation.prx.org
Generation PRX promotes youth voices by working with stations to broadcast youth radio and provides an online space for peer review and feedback.
Just Think
http://www.justthink.org
Just Think delivers educational programs that helps youth to understand and create media messages. Just Think aims to help young media makers express themselves and find their own voice.
MediaRights
http://www.mediarights.org
MediaRights is a community organization dedicated to maximizing the impact of social-issue documentaries and shorts. MediaRights helps youth filmmakers reach audiences, educators and librarians.
YO!
http://www.youthoutlook.org
YO! (Youth Outlook) is a literary journal by and about young people. YO! has a national distribution of 25,000 magazines printed monthly (10 times a year through the school season), a local access monthly TV show (YO!TV), partnerships with radio broadcasts and an annual expo.
Street-Level Youth Media
http://www.street-level.org
Street-Level Youth Media educates inner city youth in media arts and emerging technologies for use in self-expression, communication, and social change. Based in Chicago, Street-Level Youth Media helps young people find their voice and address community issues.
International Youth Media
Headliners (Formerly know as Children's Express)
http://www.headliners.org
Headliners is a UK-wide news agency producing news, features and comment by young people for everyone. Through a unique learning through journalism programme, young people aged 8 to 19 research and write stories on issues that are important to them for publication in national and local newspapers, magazines, television and radio.
Global Action Project: Youth Making Media
http://www.global-action.org
The Global Action Project provides media arts and leadership training for young people living in underserved communities. The Global Action Project aims to provide youth with the knowledge, tools, and relationships they need to create media on local and international issues, and to use their media as a catalyst for dialogue and social change.
Use the resources on the right hand side of this page for tips on promoting a youth perspective in the media; creating a communications plan; getting news coverage of an event; and pitching and writing news stories and articles.
