Blunt Youth Radio Project


Blunt Youth Radio Project is one of the oldest and most decorated youth media programs in the United States. It's a weekly, youth produced public affairs radio show on WMPG in Portland, Maine. The hour-long show features two teen hosts who interview guests on topical issues. The team's reporters produce public-radio-style features to expand on the week's theme. Topics range from the serious: the genocide in Darfur - to the light-hearted: teen dating.

Mission

The mission of Blunt Youth Radio Project is youth empowerment through direct media access.

History

Claire Holman founded the program in response to a dearth of outlets for youth voices. Blunt's first show aired in July 1994. The show has aired weekly ever since without a rerun.

Training

All participants in the program receive free training in hosting, reporting, engineering, and digital audio production.

Current members

The project is led by Claire Holman.
Members include:
In addition to Blunt's station-based after school program, Blunt has two off site production centers.

Blunt at Kennedy Park

In partnership with youth entrepreneurs, YOUTHINK and the People's Regional Opportunity Program, Blunt built community based production studio in Portland's Kennedy Park Peer Leader Program site.

Incarcerated Youth Speak Out

Blunt staff teach a radio production course twice weekly at the Long Creek Youth Development Center, a juvenile correctional facility in South Portland, Maine. Every eight weeks, the participants in our program make a supervised visit to WMPG to broadcast their own work - live.

Awards

Presented by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters