Seen and Heard Contest Opens...

The McCormick Freedom Museum is now accepting entries for its annual contest, Seen & Heard: National Student Expression Contest and Exhibit. Top entries to be exhibited at the Freedom Museum from April 11-May 31, 2009. More than $6,000 in prizes. For more information, click here:
http://www.freedommuseum.us/seenandheard

Online Time Makes Teens Lazy - Or Just Smarter?

The most extensive U.S. study on teens and use of digital media finds
that America's youth develop important social and technical skills
online, often in ways adults do not understand or value. "It might
surprise parents to learn that it is not a waste of time for their teens
to hang out online," said Mizuko Ito, University of California, Irvine
researcher and the report's lead author.

Released this week at the American Anthropological Association's annual
meeting, the extensive study was funded by the John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation's digital media and learning initiative. The
$50-million initiative is exploring how digital media is changing how
young people learn, play, socialize and participate in civic life.

"There are myths about kids spending time online - that it is dangerous or
making them lazy," said Ito. "But we found that spending time online is
essential for young people to pick up the social and technical skills
they need to be competent citizens in the digital age."

To see the report, click here

New Grant to Track Immigration Voting Patterns

The McCormick Foundation's Journalism Program approved a grant two weeks ago that will expose Chicago-area teens to radio journalism and energize their already growing enthusiasm for the electoral process. Over coming weeks the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) will provide training to some 60-75 teens in the basics of journalism and radio production. In addition, teens will conduct exit polling at voting places throughout the city and suburbs to better understand immigrant attitudes toward the Nov. 4 presidential election and a variety of key issues. The short-term project is a collaboration between ICIRR, Mikva Challenge, the Chicago Public Schools Service Learning, Univision Radio and the Asian American Institute.

Young Adults "Voting" For Less Bombardment in Election Coverage

Teens are avoiding online election coverage that provides too much detail and overwhelms them, according to a new study released by the Media Management Center (MMC) at Northwestern University, an MF grantee. Young people care about the 2008 election, but don't "want to spend much time following day-to-day developments," according to the Center.

The full qualitative study, "From 'Too Much' to 'Just Right': Engaging Millenials in Election News on the Web," examined the tastes of 89 diverse Chicago-area adults ages 17-22. The findings are online at: http://www.mediamanagementcenter.org/research/youthelection.pdf.

This in-depth look at news consumption provides some valuable insights for capturing and engaging young people around election news. For one, "news organizations need to develop online election resources that are specifically designed to minimize this 'too much' sensation," according to Mike Smith, MMC executive director. For more tips, check out the full study.

Nice job FSM!

The Tribune had a piece today highlighting the work of Jeff McCarter and Free Spirit Media. FSM's piece "Will I Be Next?" will be featured at the upcoming Peace on Earth Film Festival. Kudos to film maker Raphael Rollins, age 19. To see the Trib's piece click here. And to see Raphael's piece on YouTube, click here.

Free Chicago Ethnic Media Directory

The Community Media Workshop (www.newstips.org) has just released a free beta-version of its Chicago Ethnic Media Directory online. This useful directory, which includes basic audience and contact information for more than 200 Chicago-area ethnic media outlets, is accessible by registering here: http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Resources&main_id=889. This is the first organized, comprehensive ethnic media-exclusive media directory for the Chicago-area.

CMW's directory is just one useful tool the organization has generated as part of an MF-funded ethnic media initiative. They are also conducing research on the needs of the sector, along with hosting various meetings and trainings for ethnic media.

What Kids Can Really Do

The group What Kids Can Do recently completed an inspired program involving three Chicago high school classes. The McCormick-supported project asked participating teens to identify a profession that interested them. Student then interviewed and photographed professionals in the selected field. The results can be reviewed online at http://www.whatkidscando.org/featurestories/2008/06_practice/index.html.

The Web site includes:
The narrative and photographs that resulted from students’ interviews with adults
An audio slideshow of students reflecting on the importance of practice and hard work
A curriculum overview of WKCD’s process in developing this project