EXPRESSING YOUTH VOICE THROUGH MEDIA

Engaging and Growing Youth Through Shine On! Student Newspaper

Shine On! Bingo Turn to three to four people

around you Looking at the issue of Shine

On! that you’ve been given, try to fill in as many squares as possible in the next three minutes

Winners get a FABULOUS prize!

What conceptions does the adult world have about youth? What stereotypes exist?

Brainstorm

Discussion Where does the adult world hear about

youth? What do we refer to when staying ‘in the loop’ with young people?

What does the adult world hear about youth?

Where do you hear authentic examples of youth voice?

If the news about young people is often negative and rarely in their voice, what effect does this likely have on our communities?

Synthesis

The Solution A newspaper developed by Youth

Development Office, meant to highlight youth leadership and service in Minneapolis Public Schools

Addresses problems through providing a place for: Expression of youth voice Positive media about youth and by youth

Youth Editorial Board

High School students responsible for: Meeting together Discussing/deciding on a

pertinent theme Writing articles Discussion solicitation Organization and vision for

the issue Journalists, advocates,

teachers, learners Youth Workers in place to

challenge and support

Putting Together an Issue Youth provide framework Youth explore their niches based on their

natural talents and interests Staff helps connect to outside resources,

solicits, distributes, advocates The process will seem hodge-podge. It’s

supposed to, because you as the staff don’t get to be in charge of everything!

Benefits

Shine On! Young Leaders Rising is beneficial for youth in Minneapolis

Legitimizes ideas and discourse of youth

Documents experiences of youth in a tangible, professional format

Celebrates youth

Benefits

Shine On! Young Leaders Rising is beneficial for the school district in Minneapolis

Legitimizes Service Learning through professional documentation

Highlights student achievementPresents student discourse which can enrich and supplement the curriculum

Benefits Shine On! Young Leaders Rising is an

invaluable tool for community building in Minneapolis

Staff networking through solicitation and distribution

Student networking through YEB, essay contest, and opportunities to get involved

Creating a common identity as service learners

Benefits

Lastly, Shine On! Young Leaders Rising is a Service Learning experience for YEB members, and that comes with its own set of benefits…

Other Forms of Youth Media Magazines

Containing a collection of articles, stories, pictures, or other features

Zines Inexpensively produced, self-

published, underground publication

Newsletters Regularly distributed, about one

main topic of interest to individuals. Tend to be shorter and easily produced.

Blog A website that displays written

postings by one or more individuals, usually has links to comments on specific postings

An example of this can be found at: http://speakingundergroundonline.blogspot.com/

What is the feasibility of instituting a form of Youth Media in your program?What would the benefits be for your program?What obstacles exist to the development of this type of youth media?

Partner Discussion

A Message from the Editors:

A balancing act between challenging and supporting

Opportunities increase growth Youth deserve to be heard,

because they have something important to say

It’s our job to ensure that they have a place to express themselves