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Chicago's award-winning public affairs series returned in 2004 with
Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation, focusing on youth in
the Chicago region, ages 11 to 22.
Our Next Generation explores how society is influenced by—and
how the world looks to—local youth. Civic life, economic markets,
popular culture, the educational system, even the built environment—all
are being changed in subtle and dramatic ways by today's young people.
Chicago Matters partners WTTW 11, Chicago Public Radio, the Chicago
Public Library, The Chicago Reporter, and The Chicago Community
Trust.
Our Next Generation—A
Special Six-Week Series on Chicago Public Radio
April 5 through May 13, 2004
“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant
I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be
twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven
years.”
— Mark Twain
Generation gaps recurrently leave adults and young people befuddled:
adults puzzling over youth behavior; young people shaking their
heads in exasperation when older folks (you know who you are) “don’t
get it.” Our Next Generation series wants to help bridge
this divide. And the strategy, in large part, is let the youth do
the talking.
During a six-week period, beginning in April Our Next Generation
is providing not only a mirror for youth to validate their own reality,
but also a framework for other generations to understand it. We’re
examining serious issues facing young people today, but we’re
also celebrating many positive ways youth are contributing to society.
We hope you’ll listen in and comment on the programming you
hear.
Reports and “Coming of Age” Stories
The series begins by placing youth in a historical context,
asking what it was like to be a teenager, before the term was invented.
There are 19 reports by Chicago Public Radio staff, correspondents,
and independent producers examining issues such as early puberty,
military recruiting, and religious choices. Our “Coming of
Age” stories, written and voiced by young Chicagoans, explores
the experience of passing from childhood to adulthood.
Documentaries
We’ve commissioned three documentaries to take an in-depth
look at some key topics: what it’s like to age out of the
foster care system, how young activists are changing the notion
of political expression, and what influences several young Latinos
deciding whether or not to attend college.
Ear to the Ground Mentorship Program
Five rookie reporters, under the guidance of Chicago Public
Radio correspondents and producers, contribute their stories to
the series. These reporters were participants in the Ear to the
Ground Mentorship Program. They crafted their own reports after
having participated in an intensive two-week workshop in February
2004. Find out about the participants and listen to their audio
reports at the Mentorship Program page.
We'd like to hear from you!
We'd like to know your thoughts about our series. Please
send us your reactions, criticisms, or encourgement via E-mail
to ChicagoMatters@ChicagoPublicRadio.org or by calling
312.948.4723 and leaving a recorded message. If we can include
your comment as part of our listener comment segment to be
broadcast during the next four weeks, please state that at
the end of your comment. |
Julia McEvoy is the executive producer of Chicago Matters.
Amy Dorn is the associate producer.
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