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Playlist: News Station Picks for Feb. '10

Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50417132@N00/2340999549/">Gabriela Camerotti</a>

Image by: Gabriela Camerotti

Curated Playlist

Here are February picks for news stations from PRX News Format Curator Naomi Starobin.

"Hey, let the kids in!

"This month, I'm focusing on pieces by fresh, inspired, younger reporters and producers. Youth Radio. Radio Rookies. UNICEF. Youth Media Project. Many seasoned producers in the public radio system have taken it upon themselves to work with young reporters and give them the tools, skills and (post-squeaky and pre-gravelly) voices. They'll take your listener to places an adult just can't reach. Kudos to them! Have a listen."

More about what Naomi listens for in news programming.

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Korean BBQ Tacos

From Youth Radio | 00:02:54

A piece for the listener-foodies, with a youthful take. It's a story about a little niche in L.A. food. It comes from Youth Radio in California, founded in 1990 "on the deeply held belief that underserved youth, ages 14-24 years old, have the creativity, technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit to become leaders in the multi-media industry and the community and to serve as mentors to other youth."

Alfred’s story: Sudanese youth journalist reports on early marriage in Southern Sudan

From UNICEF | Part of the Digital Diarists: Sudanese Youth Voices series | 00:08:27

The voices of the young Sudanese reporter, 14-year-old Alfred Malish, and the people he interviews will steal your listeners' hearts. The accents are a bit thick, yet understandable. But there is so much there, and it's so refreshing to hear it right from the source. Truth is, it's part commentary and part feature, because in addition to the interviews, Malish poignantly expresses his wish that girls not marry at a young age.

This comes from UNICEF Radio, and includes an intro from a UNICEF host.

Growing Up, Getting By: A Radio Rookies Special

From Radio Rookies | 00:59:00

A beautifully produced hour by Radio Rookies, from New York Public Radio. Rookies gives teenagers the tools and training "to create radio stories about themselves, their communities and their world." In it, six stories coming from New York City teens. They are stark yet colorful, eye-opening, personal and universal. And because the stories began 9 years ago, host Marianne McCune is able to follow up and see how these teens have processed their experiences and made it to their 20s.

On the Tip of Aggravated: Homeless Students and School

From Sarah Elzas | 00:04:58

This piece isn't by a youth reporter, but contains the voices of young people. It's by Sarah Elzas, a reporter and producer for the English language service of Radio France International, based out of Paris. Elzas has great access to students and teachers and gets their take on how it is for homeless students in high school... the challenges and the small victories.

Anonymous Baby

From Youth Media Project | 00:03:53

A first person, moving account of a teen pregnancy. This comes from the Youth Media Project, which started in 2004, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. YMP "celebrates youth voice through the creation of youth-produced radio programs."

One note: the music bed under the whole thing may not be to your liking. It's appropriate music for the piece, but it may seem out of place in a news magazine.

Horned lizards of our nation's Air Force

From Jordan Nelson | 00:03:32

This story comes from Jordan Nelson, a student at Oklahoma State University. Unlike most of the stories in this month's selections, it's not about himself or his life, but about efforts to protect the Texas Horned Lizard at a local air force base. Nicely reported.

Note: You'll have to cut Nelson's soc out, which is "I'm Jordan Nelson, KOSU news."