YR Media (formerly Youth Radio) is an American non-profit youth media organization. It was first established in

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...

, and moved to

Oakland Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major West Coast port, Oakland is ...

in 2007. YR Media was founded by Ellin O'Leary in 1993, who served as its first Executive Director. YR Media advocates for youth participation in media and journalism. YR Media also operates in Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. The organization has been inactive since October 2024. YR Media has worked with outlets including ''

Teen Vogue ''Teen Vogue'' is an American progressive online publication, formerly in print, launched in January 2003, as a sister publication to '' Vogue'', targeted at teenage girls and young women. Like ''Vogue'', it included stories about fashion and ...

'',

NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...

Pandora In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus. As Hesiod related it, each god cooperated by giving her unique gifts. Her other name—inscribed against her figure on a white-ground '' ky ...

, and ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

''.

Advocacy efforts

YR Media engages with youth on

education Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education occurs within a structured institutional framework, such as public schools, following a curriculum. Non-formal education als ...

and

career A career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work (human activity), work and other aspects of personal life, life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ...

pathways in

media Media may refer to: Communication * Means of communication, tools and channels used to deliver information or data ** Advertising media, various media, content, buying and placement for advertising ** Interactive media, media that is inter ...

technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...

and creative

arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creativity, creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive ...

. YR serves predominantly racial minorities and low-income communities. YR Media runs training programs with technology education and program graduates become eligible for jobs at YR Media.

History

Youth Radio was founded in 1993 as Youth Radio in Berkeley, California. In 2007, Youth Radio moved its headquarters to downtown

. In 2007, Youth Radio reported on the importance of the youth vote at the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

. In 2021, the organization expanded to Chicago. In October 2024, the organization paused operations amid financial difficulties. YR Media paused operations and formally laid off employees on November 8, 2024, though the organization's leadership reportedly still hoped to reopen in the future.

Selected accolades

* George Foster

Peabody Award The George Foster Peabody Awards (or simply Peabody Awards or the Peabodys) program, named for the American businessman and philanthropist George Foster Peabody, George Peabody, honor what are described as the most powerful, enlightening, and in ...

– 2001, 2011 * Edward R. Murrow Award – 2001, 2005, 2010, 2011 * Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award–2010 * President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities Award – 2012 * Red Cross Heroes Award – 2010 *

Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...

– 2000

Divisions

ADP.FM/ All Day Play: YR Media had a radio station that aired commentary, news, and music. ADP shut down at midnight on December 16, 2022. Remix Your Life: YR Media's music production and distribution label. Adult ISH: YR Media has a culture, storytelling and advice talk show podcast produced by people who are almost adults. ADULT ISH is hosted by Nyge Turner and Merk Nguyen.

Notes

External links