Category: 2007

Photo by Rachel Watson
Music is a powerful medium for youth expression, identity and social change. Young people, who rely on music as a way to channel a range of emotion, rarely find opportunities in the adult world to produce, write, and record original music.
“Rock camp changed my life” is a quote I have heard from several 8-18 year old girls from sites in Brooklyn, NY, Chicago, IL and Portland, OR. The rock camp movement now includes 15-20 sites in the U.S, as well as Japan, Britain, and Canada.
Just as youth media programs across the U.S. are redefining mainstream media, youth-created music is changing the face of music. Youth music is enabling underrepresented groups to take leadership in shaping the industry. Specifically, teaching young women to find voice in writing original music and performing in all-girl bands mirror the mission of many youth media organizations to encourage young people to come to voice and power.
Despite these similarities, music as a medium is often left on the periphery of the youth media field. Music is an effective medium to engage young people and should be incorporated in the youth media field as strongly as video, print or radio.
Youth music is youth media
Youth-created music is media. Youth music programs introduce and teach young people an instrument, get them to work together in bands (diverse in age, class and ethnicity), write original music as a group (negotiating between different levels of musical capability), share leadership, practice, and perform live at the end of the program. Youth music relies on adult allies to support young people through their creative journey. Embedded within youth music programs are workshops on media literacy, building networks and allies, and using music as a means of expression.
Common elements of youth music include:
• becoming media literate and aware
• gaining confidence and voice
• sharing leadership
• developing kinship
• constructing a network of allies
• sharing access and perspective across differences
These elements are not only comon amoung youth music organizations, but, not surprisingly they are the same elements found in most youth media programming.
The Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls: A case study
As a large network of similar non-profits, the rock camp movement—which speaks to the many camps that have launched individually since 2001—have formed from a desire to encourage young women to gain a skill, self confidence, a network of allies, a creative approach to combat stereotypes, and a channel to voice an opinion—even if it is through shouting lyrics in a band, rocking on guitar, or banging on drums. Rock camp is not just about the music. It is about empowering girls.
The program is founded on the proposition that music can serve as a powerful tool of self-expression and self-esteem-building for girls and young women, and can help combat racism and stereotypes by building bridges of communication and shared experience among girls from diverse communities. Like many youth media organizations that focus on teaching youth video, print or radio, the increase in youth voice in a medium is a major part of the end goal.
Becoming media literate and aware. Rock camp engages young women with hands-on media and critical analysis in order to spur creative understandings of identity, the self, society, and community. Embedded alongside instrument instruction and band practice, media literacy workshops, zine pages, and hands on classes with technology (sound boards, mixers) support young girls to develop critical questions on mainstream media’s audience, messages, and how to combat oppression creatively. Youth media programs also incorporate—and in some cases rely upon—media literacy to support young people as they connect their work with the “bigger picture.”
Gaining confidence and voice. Rock camp exists beyond the medium it teaches (instrument instruction). Sarah Dougher, a writer and musician living in Portland, who has volunteered at the Portland camp for a number of years, described seeing girls (Oregon Humanities Fall 2002), aged 8 to 18, “find the strength to resist injustice and prejudice through musical composition and collaboration, where everything they did in their lives could be about their song writing and about their music.” For some girls, Dougher stated, this is the “first time they have played an electric instrument, and for nearly all it is a life-changing event.” Rock camp provides a platform for young women to be recognized, come to voice, and express themselves outside the constraints imposed by other institutions using media as a tool. In the same exact manner, youth media programs create environments to amplify youth voice and support their creative expression using media, just like rock camp. Set against the mainstream, rock camp encourages young women to question sexism and the music industry, much in the same ways that youth media questions youth inclusion in society overall.
Developing kinship. Kinship is shared equally among campers and counselors and across age differences. At camp, everyone is expected “to be real” and leave their titles (or privileges) at the door. Run by un-paid female volunteers who want to be a part of a supportive environment that they rarely experienced in their lives as teens and/or female musicians, the atmosphere of camp is compassion for youth and passion for music. In essence, rock camp is run by mentors that are young (between the ages 19-35) and learning as they go, investing in a common interest (in this case, rock n’ roll). Many youth media organizations are staffed with young people and educators, some who work for free, and many (if not all) who are passionate about the young people they serve—an exact parallel to rock camp.
Sharing leadership. A few camp organizations have a youth advisory board, and many alums apply as interns, band coaches, band managers, and instrument instructors after the age of 18. The experience in playing in a band among peers is a space for young people to define leadership, work as a team, resolve conflict, respect differences and listen to one another. The campers and alums are in a position where what they learn from the program will one day lead the program. Patrick Johnson, a graduate turned employee of Youth Radio in Oakland, CA, remarks in a previous article published in YMR that the organization provides “a visible line of leadership.” Youth media values youth leadership, where adult allies and mentors encourage young people to share positions of power like the volunteers at camp who share the power to rock.
Constructing a network of allies. Organizers of the Portland, OR rock camp called for a Girls Rock Camp Alliance last year to share best practices, curriculum, and dialogue across camp sites (many of which are their own, separate non-profits). These educators are dedicated to keeping each camp’s mission unique but in line with the overall goal of empowering young women through music and bands. Such networking, sharing, and dialogue is exactly what Steve Goodman and Diane Coryat call for in their OSI article, “Developing the Youth Media Field.” If rock camp answers the call that leaders in the youth media field raised in 2004, youth music is directly in line with the youth media field.
Sharing access and perspective across differences. Like the youth media field, rock camp does a fantastic job at providing under resourced youth access to technology and expensive equipment. Approximately 25% of the campers report annual household incomes under $20,000, and more than half of campers receive partial or full scholarships (full tuition for the 2005 and 2006 sessions was $500). The camp reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S., with more than half of the campers identifying themselves as African-American, Latina, Asian-American or multiethnic/multiracial. Similarly, youth media programs across the U.S. aim to serve under represented youth that often, do not have access to media or media programs. Many youth media organizations come at low or no cost in an effort to reach their target audience. Youth music is not common to youth media, it is youth media.
Youth Music intersecting with Youth Media
While efforts like rock camp exist across the country and around the globe, the youth media field has not turned its attention to this work. Similarly, rock camp has not reached out to the handful of youth media organizations that focus on girl-empowering video, radio, or print programs. Though in the future, these perfectly-suited collaborations and partnerships will eventually occur, to date they remain untapped.
There are, nevertheless, a few points of intersection between youth music and youth media. Some youth media organizations are recognizing youth music as youth media, incorporating music production in their programming within recent years, such as BAVC and Youth Radio in the Bay Area. Even some organizations have made partnerships with youth music. For example, Youth Media Records in Oakland, CA—a youth-directed label based on principles of justice and social engagement—partners with local youth media organizations, such as Conscious Youth Media Crew, to provide music to video pieces and vice versa. These partnerships have found that using youth-produced music is a viable method to bypass copyright laws that come with using mainstream music in video and on air. These musical opportunities are spaces for youth to meet, share different perspectives, and work on creating multi-media as a team.
Scattered within the youth media field exists youth music programs but they remain in the shadow of video, radio or print. For example, in Portland, OR, Ethos Music Center is dedicated to music-based education for youth in underserved communities. Similarly, Music4U in the U.K. brings musical opportunities to young people in communities with high levels of poverty, particularly those living in geographical isolated rural and urban estate communities. The mission statements and drive for many youth music programs are right in line with youth media. Mainstream music is arguably more dominant in young people’s lives than film, television, or radio, which carries with it, the same loaded messages as these other mediums. Young people need the tools to deconstruct, question, and create music in their own terms, just as they have done so powerfully in video, radio and print. It is time for the field to fully embrace and collaborate with youth music.
Conclusion
From rock camp to youth-directed record labels, music is perhaps, one of the most important mediums accessible for youth expression, voice, and desired change. As such, youth music should not be on the periphery of the youth media field.
Music is media. If the field continues to simply intersect with music, it will only fraction and weaken the field. Music must be embraced as part of the youth media field. When youth media educators talk about youth media it must be all inclusive, incorporating music, video, radio, print and technology equally. The field is, after all, bigger than we think.
Ingrid Hu Dahl is a founding member of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, a guitarist in the all girl band Boyskout, and a scholar in Women’s Leadership. Dahl is also the Editor of Youth Media Reporter and a member of AED’s Youth Engagement Team.

Scribe present an evening of Youth Media as part of monthly Storyville
Screening Series
Friday, November 9 at 7:00 pm
Location: Scribe Video Center, 4212 Chestnut St, Phila
Tel: 215 222 4201
Admission is FREE to all students and $5 for adults
Come early at 5:30 pm for a Orientation about Scribe’s Youth Programs
Here is a link to the complete program description:
http://scribe.org/events/eveningphiladelphiaproducedyouthmedia

Continue reading YOUTH SHORTS SCREENING AT SCRIBE

The Youth 2 Youth forum will take place on Friday, November 16, from 5:00 –
10:00 PM. The forum will offer diverse youth aged 14-21 from across New
York City the opportunity to connect, speak out and take action to make a
difference in their schools and communities. The forum is sponsored by the
New York Immigration Coalition, Union Settlement, the Coalition for
Asian-American Children & Families, the New York State Youth Leadership
Council and United Neighborhood Houses.
*Youth 2 Youth Forum*
Friday, November 16th
5:00-10:00pm
Washington Community Center, 1775 3rd Ave and 98th St.
Networking and workshops followed by performances and open mic.
Food and drinks will be served.
for more information please contact Sasha Chavkin as civic@thenyic.org
The forum will offer youth (both immigrants and non-immigrants) an
opportunity to connect, speak out and take action on the issues facing their
communities.
Registration is required for organizations wishing to table or take part in
the performances or open mic. Register soon because space is limited!

Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism Launches
Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship
Deadline: January 31, 2008
Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism
( http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/ ) and the Spencer Foundation
( http://www.spencer.org/ ) are offering a new fellowship in edu-
cation reporting, beginning in fall 2008. The fellowship seeks to
elevate the level of education reporting by giving writers the
time and resources needed to produce work of lasting value and
that ultimately influences the national conversation about the
state of education in America. The fellowship combines course work
in residence at Columbia University with intense individual help
with each fellow’s project on some aspect of education in the
U.S.
Fellows will spend an academic year in New York to study at the
School of Journalism and at Columbia’s Teachers College. In
addition to the coursework and independent projects, the Spencer
Fellows will meet as a group periodically and will participate
in conversations with influential leaders in both education and
journalism.
The fellowship is open to journalists, educators, and education
policy researchers who are interested in creating significant
works of long-form education journalism. The chief criterion for
selection is the potential for research and writing excellence
and impact on the national discourse in the field of education.
An outline of a proposed project in education reporting —
projects that are already underway are eligible — must accom-
pany all applications.
Visit the Web site of Columbia University’s Graduate School of
Journalism for complete program information.

The Global Youth Media and Arts Program
Immigration + Identity
Information Session
Tuesday November 27, 6-8pm
4 Times Square, Room 38-400 New York, NY 10036
Are you a school or after-school educator? Do you want to
participate in a free innovative art and media program focused on
global issues?
Come learn about the Global Youth Media and Arts Program!
The Global Youth Media and Arts Program (MAP) is an arts education
program for youth ages 12-18 in New York and San Francisco. With
the MAP, youth use their own lives and communities as a platform to
examine global themes such as Immigration and Identity. Each year
World Savvy selects up to 15 school and after-school arts-educators
to participate. We then provide professional development workshops
and resources for teachers; classes and artist-led fieldtrips for
youth; and coordinate a culminating exhibition and Festival. The
2008 Festival will be held at The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center
and include a professional art exhibition, film screenings and
performance.
Participant Educators Receive:
•A Curriculum Guide containing lesson plans, classroom tools, &
arts resources
•Professional Development Institute: World Savvy provides tools,
training and curriculum to address the global theme with students
•One-on-one consultations with World Savvy for curriculum planning
and research
•Ongoing support in developing and implementing global curriculum
during the MAP
•2 Creative customized Workshops that focus on the global theme &
global fieldtrips to NY arts institutions and communities
•The Global Youth Media and Arts Festival—a professional public
exhibition and performance showcase for all!

Please RSVP with Victoria Restler, Senior Program Associate at 212-
759-2307 or victoria@worldsavvy.org to attend the November 27th
Information Session. Learn more at www.worldsavvy.org
4 Times Square, Room 38-400 New York, NY 10036

TCYMN Film Festival November 29th, 7pm Walker Cinema
Free Thursdays at the Walker! The Third TCYMN Film Festival will be screening the
best of the best youth created shorts from Minnesota. The festival is youth curated by
experienced young art critics and makers. There will be a post screening Q&A with the
makers. Come out and see the new crop of potential Minnesota grown filmmakers and
mingle with the people building excitement for youth involved media!
• Two Hours of the best youth-made shorts
• Mingle with youth media professionals
• Meet other young makers
• Explore Twin Cities nationally recognized youth media opportunities
For more information, go to www.tcymn.net

Picture Factory is on a mission to find a few interns to work either full or part time in the
production office in St. Paul. At this time the position is not a paid position but would
be good for anybody looking to gain experience, connections and / or school credits.
Work in these positions could begin as early as mid-November but may not begin until
December and will likely run for about four months. Picture Factory can be fairly
flexible with the work schedules in order to accommodate a student schedule.
The current title of this documentary program is “Hip Hop High” and will follow
students at the High School of Recording Arts* in St. Paul.
For more information or if interested in the position contact Jillian Nodland : jillian@picture-factory.com

LAST CALL
new deadline 15^th November
Video festival for children and young people
Find more information and entry form from www.videotivoli.fi

*·** Children and young people under 16 years old
**·** Under 10 minutes (+ one minute films)*
Videotivoli | Pirkanmaa Film Centre
Kehräsaari, B-talo
PL | BOX 432
33101 Tampere
Finland
Tel +358-(0)3-222 6236
Fax +358-(0)3-222 6525
Mob +358-(0)40-507 4487 (maikki)
videotivoli@videotivoli.fi
www.videotivoli.fi

The Tribeca Film Institute is proud to announce that submissions are now open for Our City, My Story-an annual screening of short work made by NYC high school students!
Apply online at www.tribecafilmfestival.org
For details about our City, My Story, and how to submit your short film, please visit www.tribecafilminstitute.org/ourcitymystory.
DEADLINE DECEMBER 14, 2007

Take advantage of the NYCLU’s new project,
Youth Camera Action: School to Prison Pipeline
About the Project:
In the summer of 2007, the New York Civil Liberties Union partnered with
youth from three community organizations – Future of Tomorrow, Make
the Road New York and Youth on the Move – to produce three short
documentaries on student experiences with the over-policing of New York
City schools and the School to Prison Pipeline. The NYCLU supported the
youth in creating their own videos using their own words and footage.
For more information and to request a free Youth Camera Action DVD and
School to Prison Pipeline Toolkit, email youthcameraaction@nyclu.org
or call 212-607-3388.