...works in public schools to train high school and middle school youth in radio production, media literacy and media advocacy. Rootz Youth analyze and critique the media, and learn how to create stories that reflect their voices, issues, and communities.

Students learn core radio production skills: writing for radio, news research, interviewing basics, and voicing a story. These stories are informed by their understanding of the media through media literacy topics ranging from who owns the media to what role of advertising in media.

Media advocacy projects have included an analysis of radio station Hot 97's morning news headlines, and a comparison of the advertising shown during the television show "Friends," with a primarily white audience, and "Girlfriends," a show with a primarily African-American audience.

Rootz teaches in 3-5 schools each academic year, and often conducts workshops with community organizations and at other schools.

Check out our schools and hear what we are doing!

...marks eight years since Radio Rootz began, and my, how we've grown. From one class at Crossroads Middle School in upper Manhattan, we've expanded to offer year-long classes at four schools in New York City, and two in Washington, D.C. We're also working with young people at the Renaissance Village Trailer Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And we're continuing our partnerships from the Summer Media Organizing Project (SMOP), working with local youth organizing groups to build their media skills. To find out more about our 2007-08 partner schools, click their individual names below.