{{refimprove, date=June 2012 Blunt Youth Radio Project is one of the oldest and most decorated youth media programs in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. It's a weekly, youth produced public affairs radio show on

WMPG WMPG is a community radio station broadcasting from Portland, Maine. It is located on Bedford Street at the University of Southern Maine Portland Campus. It is affiliated with the college, and a mix of USM students and volunteers from the greater P ...

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: * Aidan Mitchell * Setareh Jalali * Sophie Frantz * Milena Germon * Moses Small * Malcolm Purington * Zoe Farr * Jenni Nguyen * Alice Kenny * Elle Spurr * John Adil

Outreach

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 (PROP), 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

* 2005 Silver Reel - Local Public Affairs - Adam, Branden, James, George, Lashanda, Tyler, Zack, Kerry Seed and Claire Holman - Incarcerated Youth Speak Out * 2003 Special Merit Award - Local News and Commentaries - Carolyn Snell - Body Image * 2003 Silver Reel Award - National Documentary - American Road Trip * 2003 Silver Reel Award - Radio Drama - Kathleen Ross - And How Does that Make You Feel? * 2002 Special Merit - Pre-produced Local Affairs Programming - Joey Thompson - Joey Interviews a Cutter * 2001 Silver Reel Award - Live Local Affairs Programming - Selena Juneau, Justin Vogel, Sarah Margolis-Pineo - High School Proms: From Dress Shopping to the Anti-Prom * 2001 Golden Reel - Promotion - Blunt Promo Sampler * 1998 Special Merit - Station Promo - Blunt Show Promos * 1998 Golden Reel - Public Affairs Programming - Blunt Telescope Excerpts

Presented by the Maine Association of Broadcasters

* 2005 Radio News Award - First Place - Feature - Mark Cassette and Kerry Seed - My Criminal Life * 1999 Radio News Award - Second Place - Feature - Julie Joy, Jon Merrfield, Dan Kramer, Claire Holman - Students with Disabilities * 1998 Radio News Award - First Place - Feature - Bethany Marchand, Claire Holman - High School Student Explores Sex Industry

External links

Blunt's siteBlunt on PRXBlunt on Flickr
American public radio programs Youth-led media