Editors and mentors support the process, while the voice stays with the people telling the story.
Our History
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1993
Opening in Berkeley
Youth Radio opens in Berkeley, CA to amplify youth voices through journalism and audio storytelling, during a period of limited representation.
Late 1990's
Youth voices on air
Youth-produced reporting and commentary brought perspectives rarely heard in mainstream media — grounded in lived experience and community.
2000's
Awards
Youth produced journalism earns major awards validating youth led reporting at a national level : Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award (2000), Peabody Award (2001), Edward R. Murrow Award (2001).
2001-2004
National recognition
Youth Radio’s work reaches audiences far beyond the Bay Area, with youth-produced stories airing on national public radio and other major outlets.
2000's-2010's
Partnerships
Partnerships with media organizations helped distribute youth stories widely, connecting local voices to national and global conversations.
2010-2014
Digital-first shift
As media changed, so did Youth Radio — expanding beyond broadcast to become a digital first newsroom led by young creators.
2014-2023
Building skills that last
Youth Radio continued training young people as journalists, creators, and media professionals — supporting voices that carried their skills into the wider world.
2024
A pause
After decades of impact, Youth Radio paused operations. The work stopped — but the need for youth voices did not.
2026
We're back
Youth Radio is back — carrying forward its legacy while building new pathways for young people to create, publish, and be heard in today’s media landscape.
Apply to Youth Radio.
Ages 14-24. No experience needed. Just curiosity and something to say.
