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

TRUESTAR & YO! on Violence in Chitown

YO!TV and New America Media of the Bay Area covered TRUESTAR magazine's inspiring recent event "No Weapons Just Two Steppin.'" Hear the point of view of Chicago teens - and witness some amazing dance at
http://www.youthoutlook.org/news.

Journalist Ruben Salazar Honored with Postage Stamp

A U.S. postal stamp honoring Latino journalist Ruben Salazar, a Mexican-American news reporter killed by police on August 29, 1970, is to be officially issued on April 22. Salazar, who was born in 1928 and wrote for the L.A. Times and served as news director for KMEX in Los Angeles, was killed during the National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War in East Los Angeles, CA. Stamps honoring four other journalists – Martha Gellhorn, John Hersey, George Polk and Eric Sevareid are also going to be issued the same day. This is the first stamp honoring a Latino journalist ever issued.

See a commentary piece by Dr. Roberto Cintli Rodriguez that appeared in La Prensa San Diego here: http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=f04bd70dcddc6195f6200680ea8c5109

2 Huge Youth Media Events Rock Chicago

This past Sunday night (March 9) Young Chicago Authors (YCA)celebrated its 8th annual “Louder Than A Bomb” teen poetry slam. It was nothing short of a huge hit! Highlights included a new venue – the Vic Theater, a surprise performance by GLC (“Drive Slow”), and documentary film makers (Siskel/Jacobs Productions and Free Spirit Media) covering the entire event. (Watch for the documentary they’re producing on YCA, to be released later this year.) But the main highlight as always was teen poetry at its best – including a surprise performance by 11-12 year olds from Ravenswood Elementary.


On Tuesday, March 11 Roosevelt University hosted its annual Scholastic Press Association of Chicago high school journalism workshops and awards ceremony. This year more than 300 high school students and their journalism advisers attended workshops on a variety of topics including coverage of entertainment, interviewing skills and credibility. The workshops were great – but energy levels rose afterwards with the teen awards at the Chicago Cultural Center (pictured). Prizes went out for a variety of categories – best editorial cartoon, sports reporting, design & layout, etc.