Tuesday, July 31, 2012

YNI is working hard!






The YNI students are working hard editing their radio stories and working on their scripts. Just one more week left!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Ayinde: Week 7

This week I have continued my editing and am reaching the conclusion to my story, but I'm still missing the positive side of stop and frisk. So I hope to get an interview with someone who can help me out with that. Otherwise things are running smoothly for me because I have completed a big chunk of the story and gotten most of my interviews out of the way.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Podcasts from Interviews with the Phillips Neighborhood Mural Project

The interviews the youth did with youth members of the Phillips Neighborhood Mural Project have finally been edited into podcasts! (Check back to the July 3rd post for more info). Click the links below to listen.

Satta & Saleta podcast

Ayinde & Nansi podcast

David & Lani podcast

Karen & Ahmad podcast

David McCoy, Week 6: The MPR Strikes Back

This week at KFAI's Youth News Initiative, we learned the basics of editing in Protools and began work to edit our own interviews. We also visited the Expansive MPR St. Paul headquarters and so how this radio stations operated. This makes our third field trip and completes the triangle of media: TV, Radio, and Newspaper. Finally, we continued editing our pieces while I have sent my story details to be considered by the U of M's Youth Development Department for interviews.

Ayinde: Week 6

This week I've learned more about pro tools and we went on a field trip to MPR. I have continued editing my interviews and better constructing my outline. My piece still needs work, but I am closer to finished than last week.

Nansi: Week 6

This week we had another field trip, but this time it was at the MPR radio station. I liked visiting the place because everything seemed so new. I also didn't know it was in St. Paul... St. Paul must be really cool if the State Capitol, and MPR station is in it. The cubicals made it seem like a classic office type room that made the place look like it is important (I'm not saying that it's not). I think 89.3 was the room (or station. I'm not sure) we visited. We were shown how the playlists and other were used and how twitter and Facebook are where fans request songs and are updated. Later, we saw an old fashioned editing device where a tape was cut? If it was a wrong cut, they needed to fix it with tape. I'm glad that we went to MPR since Toni was so nice. She gave us CD's and "party favors" :)
I'm also glad that I finally interviewed someone. She's only a friend, but she knows people who can give me a professional type of view on the subject. For now, i might just take the recorder home and try to contact Family tree clinic.

Karen - Week 6

This week we went to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) for a tour. We got to understand more what radio stations do. We also started editing our interviews for our youth pieces. We used protools which I already understood how to use. Right now I think I'm mostly done with editing. This week I also did the promo. That went really fast.

Satta-Editing

This week we visted the offices of Minnesota Public Radio, (MPR). We got a tour of the building and a sense for what they do there. This week I also began editing my interviews. Here at KFAI we use Protools as the main editing tool. It is cool and frustrating learning how to use Protools, but once I get the hang of it things shall be fine! I am excited to hear my final piece, but for now there is more work to be done.

Ahmad: Week 6

Around this time last year i would be sitting on my butt on my coach watching TV, but this summer i have visited a lot of great place. This week for example got a chance to visit MPR witch is one of the coolest buildings iv seen. The have cool old vintage radios and old vintage records and tons of other cool equipment there and as well as people who have been working in radio for many years some even more then 20 years. It was a really cool experience to be able to visit and get a tour of the place.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

YNI goes to MPR



On Tuesday, July 24 the YNI students went to MPR's studios in St. Paul. They got a tour from Toni Randolph and listened to a piece by a local youth from the Young Reporter Series. They even got to see the studio (top picture) where Justin Timberlake recorded some of his voice work for Shrek 3! Thank you Toni.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

YNI goes to MTN...and gets on TV!






On Wednesday, July 18 the YNI students went to Minneapolis Television Network and got a tour of the studios from MTN's Youth Programs Instructor, Alex Betzler. The students learned about community television and how to make a basic talk show. They created two 5 minute talk shows, which are posted below. Thanks Alex!




Karen - Week 5

This week we went to the state capital. We had a tour at the press in the basement.I learned that most of the press are down in the capital together. We met people from Pioneer Press, Star Tribune, MPR, and more. I understand what they meant when they said that if you want to be a journalist you most likely will like certain things and topics. An example they said was (I think) they governor from like 50 years ago.We also saw the House Chambers and Senate Chambers.

I interview a person from NAMI. Her name was Sue. She gave me very elaborated answers and was very friendly. I think this interview was a success.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Lunch With Janis!


On Tuesday, July 17 Janis Lane-Ewart (KFAI's Executive Director and Program Host of The Collective Eye) sat down for pizza with the YNI students and chatted them up. Thanks Janis for the pizza!

Ahmad: Week 5

This week we took a very intresting tour of the capital building and the press room and got to meet Pioneer Press writer He told us about how competitive the news company have become in getting the story out first and being the first to break news whether it be through their website or  Twitter. I also finaly got to interview legislature Phyllis Kahn and talk to her a little about here push to lower the drinking age in Minnesota. She had some very interesting answers that I didn't expect from what little research I had done of her.I was happy to finally get that side of the argument represented though.

David McCoy, Week 5: A Capital Week

This week KFAI's YNI group was treated to a trip to the MN capital, and the many news operatives working there. We met with Pioneer Press's Bill Salisbury and learned about the working of written journalism  and how politics play a role in the everyday news. We then saw the various halls and speaking rooms at the capital. That day we left with a better sense of journalism.
Tuesday, I had my first interview for my final project. As nerve wracking as it was, it was great practice for my next interview.

Satta-State Capitol

On Monday we took a trip to the state capitol, which is located in Saint Paul. It may seem irrelevant to go to the state capitol, well atleast for those who don't know how it relates to journalism. Have you ever wondered where most of the media has their offices in Minnesota? The answer to that is the state capitol. Important newspapers such as the Star Tribune, and MPR, and many more have their offices in the basement of the state capitol! We got to see all that first hand. I feel it is a great place for the media to be stationed where the political action takes place. To explain, the governer of our state has his office in the state capitol, political debates occur, politicians make laws, and people protest for new laws at the state capitol. Our tourist showed us the rooms where our politicians make new laws and debate. He also told us that the media is allowed to be there, and showed us exactly where they are permitted to be at political debates. This was a great learning experience and furthered my motivation into becoming a journalist!

Nansi: Week 5

This week we went to the state capitol for our field trip. I never knew that the pioneer press and other news people would be kept in the basement. It is true that newspapers are dying slowly, but I think they could be kept alive through the internet? Anyway, I did agree with what was said about journalism: it can be applied to anything, or almost anything. I also agree with that quote that was on the door in one of the rooms we went. It said something like "If you don't want something to be recorded, it shouldn't have happened." I do not remember the exact quote, but it was kind of like that, and I do not remember who it was by. I agree, but I disagree because Everything that happens is not always easily prevented. To make someone fully responsible is not good...? I think it was fun to go to the capitol, even though I drive by it and the Cathedral on most days. I haven't been there in a while, and have forgotten how cool and beautiful the place was.

Week 5: Ayinde

This week we learned how to edit using pro tools and we went on a field trip to the capitol, where we toured the Pioneer Press's and other news teams workplaces. We were given a tour by one of Pioneer Press's editors, Bill Salisbury, we also learned about how their news rooms functioned and how they did their jobs.

Monday, July 16, 2012

YNI takes a field trip to the Capitol



On July 16th the YNI students took a field trip to the Minnesota State Capitol. Bill Salisbury, of the Pioneer Press, showed them around the basement press room and the Capitol building. Thanks Bill!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Youth News Initiative PSAs

Ayinde's PSA on the misrepresentation of his North Minneapolis neighborhood

Karen's PSA on the misrepresentation of anime lovers

Ahmad's PSA on the misrepresentation of his neighborhood

Nansi's PSA on the misrepresentation of Latino workers

Lani's PSA on the issue of child poverty in the Twin Cities


David's PSA on the misrepresentation of African American students' test scores

Satta's PSA on the misrepresentation of her neighborhood

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

MPR's Stephen Smith comes to KFAI


On Wednesday, July 11 Stephen Smith, Executive Editor of American RadioWorks and host of MPR's Bright Ideas, came to KFAI and gave an informative talk about storytelling. Thank you Stephen!

David McCoy, Week 4: Story Tattle-Telling

This week we at KFAI's Youth News Initiative continued to work on our projects and continue interviewing people from local radio hosts to parents to activists. While my project remains difficult, time and effort is still being put into it.
On Wednesday, we had a speaker on how essential storytelling is to radio. YNI members and our  mentors learned the aspects of a story's purpose, to persuade the audience that the information is interesting, and the components that make a story come alive: sounds, voices, characters and a central point and purpose.

Ayinde: Week 4

This week we set up interviews with people for our radio pieces. On Tuesday I had an interview with Mr. Ascheman, a lawyer that specializes in criminal defense and I also had an interview with my father who was subject to a terry stop before. My project is coming together bit by bit and I think it will turn out great, but it will require a lot of.... editing.

Satta-week Four

This week was a very engaging week at YNI. We all had to schedule interviews and start really deciding on what our radio pieces would contain, and be about. I actually interviewed Lisa Moy a DJ with the radio station, KMOJ the people's station. My radio piece is going to be on the topic of two specific types of music, of which I'm not  exposing at this particular moment. I also interviewed two of my peers on  the same topic. Interviewing was not only an experience, but it was fun because I got to hear other people's takes on my topic. I hope week five will be as engaging as week four!

Ahmad: Week 4

This week we scheduled some interviews and final got to put our interview practice to work. I got to work on a interview with a MADD Representative on what she thought or her reasoning behind the issue of lowering the drinking and why it shouldn't be lowered. We also had Steven Smith come visit us and tell us about story telling and how you can successful make a story interesting. The ideas he brought were great and  i enjoyed the time he spent with us.This week has been busy but also has been interesting.

Nansi: Week 4

This week we started scheduling interviews for our final projects. I've sent many emails, but have not gotten many replies. One woman, the founder of the organization  The National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation & Healing, Inc. wants to be interviewed by me, but  we can't find a time that would be best yet since she is really busy. I also want to get a male perspective who has dealt with abortion or has experienced it, but I'm still looking. I think even a male opinion in general would be enough. As for a female perspective, it's hard to find a woman or someone to interview who has experienced the impact of abortion. It's hard because My friends and family are either religious and haven't dealt with it, or they just haven't gone through it. For this reason I think I might just find someone online? I don't know about that yet. I think I might just interview my health teacher to get a medical perspective besides Vicki's religious views. I was also thinking I might interview someone with legal experience. I hope to remember to make it clear that my topic is not just abortion, but it is "Should men be allowed in the decision-making of aborting their unborn child." I'll probably re-phrase that, but you know what I mean....

Karen - Week 4

This week I scheduled interviews for my youth piece. I interviewed Emily's friend, Joua, about how she dealt with depression. I also will interview a person from NAMI next week. My last interview I scheduled was one with my friend. My interview went well. I learned a lot of new things about depression from Joua. Now I'm working on what to say in my piece.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

YNI interviews Phillips Neighborhood Mural Project





On Tuesday, July 3 youth from the Phillips Neighborhood Mural Project came to KFAI and the Youth News Initiative interviewed them about what they're doing in the communityThe Phillips Neighborhood Mural Project is a collaboration with local artists and coordinated by Main Street Project, HOPE Community, Little Earth and Waite House. This is the fifth year of the project. Stay tuned for the unveiling of the mural in August!

David McCoy, Week 2: Speaker's Week

This week at KFAI's Youth News Initiative, we had two speakers willing to tell not just their life stories, but about how to better our speaking.
Our first speaker was Al McFarlane who told us of how he discovered his gift of storytelling and his perspective abilities to take in multiple views points and find a single conclusion.
Our next speaker was an actress, Sha, who showed how inflection, speed, and personality added to written words can bring about characters and emotion.

Lani - Phillips Mural

Today we interviewed students from the Phillips neighborhood about the mural they would soon be painting. I got a lot of information from a student director such as how some students got to be a part of the program, and when the mural would be unveiled.
I've heard rumors about the neighborhood itself, how it's said to be ghetto, but talking with a couple interviewees, they said the neighborhood was extremely friendly, with people stopping by to ask how their project is going, what it's going to be about, when it'll be finished, and so on. Interviewing them wasn't too hard, keeping the flow of questions going was pretty easy to do, but I found practicing the questions a little more would've made it go a bit more smoothly.

David McCoy, Week 3: Paint Misbehaving

This week at KFAI's Youth News Initiative, we went wrapped up our PSA's and prepped for the Phillips Mural Project interviews that happened earlier today.
The Phillips community, with the help of the Wade Foundation will be painting a mural displaying the collaborative efforts of several artistic youth with an unveiling in August.
Tag-teaming the interviews with two of the members of the project helped to make our first 'professional' interviews excellent practice for our final project, which we've been working to develop.
While my own project is still finding its' focus, research and and project development is being done.

Satta-week three

The third week is the week where the previews ended and the movie began. I say that because we are starting to create ideas for our final pieces. The first two weeks were more informational and we just listened mostly. Now we get a taste for how our final radio pieces should be and sound like. Today we interveiwed youth who are painting a mural in the Phillips neighborhood in South Minneapolis. I felt that was a great experience because we got a taste on how an actual interview is. The only unusual thing about it was that we had to interview with a partner and that made it more difficult, but practice makes perfect!

Week 3: Ayinde

This week I learned more interviewing skills like how to ask good questions and communicate more fluently while interviewing someone. I also learned about the Phillips neighborhood and the murals they have painted.

Saleta - Week 3

This week i learned how to interview a person and whats important in an interview.
today we got the oppurtunity to meet with youth who work on painting murals all over the minneapolis area during thier summer breaks. i think what they do and how they create thier pieces are very interesting.

Karen - Week 3

This week I learned how to do a set up interview. We interviewed people from the Philips Neighborhood Mural Project in pairs. I learned that it's good to keep eye contact and when interviewing two people you should say their names to justify who you are talking to. In addition, an interviewer should not be surprise if the interviewee doesn't know their, the interviewer's, name.

I also learned that when you want to interview someone for something (like a final project), it's good to ask the person wanted for the interview ahead of time. The reason is because if they refuse and you only have a week left then you end up in a tight spot. Furthermore, it's good to have an idea for what you want your radio piece to be. For example, what message are you trying to send, who is it going to affect, what are you specifically trying to explain, and many more things.

Nansi: What I learned this week

This week we discussed what it means to be a journalist and our final project. The definition we came up with is that a journalist is a person who reports true information to a relevant audience.. I still feel that a journalist is some type of storyteller. We also researched our topics and contacts for the final project we are going to do. I'm not so sure which topic I want to research. Prank calling is humorous and interesting to talk about, but abortion is a topic that is almost always being debated. It also affects many people, but then I think I don't want to do it. I feel it's too serious. I'll probably just talk to mentor about it. Anyway, today we interviewed the youth from Phillips who will paint a mural. Ayinde and I interviewed two people: Lani and Benjamin. Benjamin was a bit shy and nervous, so we didn't ask him many questions, but Lani was very outgoing and liked to talk about the project. Overall, this week was fun and I look forward to the 4th of July.

Ahmad, Week:3

This week we really started to dive into our finally project. We began by brainstorming some ideas for our stories. after we a good idea of what we wanted we hop on the internet to do a little research in our indivual topics as well as doing research on people we may be able to contact in hopes of maybe setting up a interview. I haven't really narrowed down my topic but the debate around drinking age has sparked my interest and that may be a possible route i choose to take. It has been difficult tho finding people in my local community whith knowledge on the subject that I can contact. I hope to have better luck moving forward.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Nansi: Ethics

This week I learned about ethics and what it means to be a journalist. Ethics is kind of like a set of principles or integrity people go by when they are working. A journalist needs to have ethics because otherwise their work is not very valid to people. For example, if a journalist accepts a gift from an interviewee, they are not being very ethical because the person interviewed might want something in exchange. The journalist might even be blackmailed after. Later, we decided to find out what other people thought ethics are. We went in pairs and interviewed people on their thoughts. One woman said, (the only person we got to interview...) "Ethics are just a set of principles that people go about in their daily lives." and since it got awkward by our silence, we just told her to have a good day. In our defense she seemed busy anyway. I feel kind of bad that we only interviewed one person. I'd feel better if we weren't rejected twice in the first place. I liked learning about ethics because it applies to journalism and my future when I have a career.

Karen- Week 2

This (last) week we talked about voice with Sha Cage and the fact that the way we tone our voices can interpret certain emotions or ideas. We also talked about the Code of Ethics for journalists. We learned that we shouldn't do anything that can put us into a position of bribery. In addition to that we learned we should do things differently based on the circumstances. An example is when you are interviewing a child you should use a different voice from what you use to an adult.
We also went outside to interview random people about what they thought ethics was. The person I interviewed said that ethics was doing the right thing.