Over President’s Day Weekend (Feb 16-17, 2019) in Oakland, youth journalists from across California who are part of the California Youth Media Network came together. The network gathered to expand their multimedia and journalism skills, have conversations about pressing issues they are covering (from immigration to climate change), and to work on collaborative storytelling.
The goals of the conference were to 1) create connections between youth journalists around the state, 2) build skills and capacity, and 3) drive collective impact.
100+ participants joined the gathering, which featured:
- Keynote speaker Adizah Eghan, producer at Snap Judgment who talked about her project Counted: An Oakland Story tracking the personal stories behind Oakland homicides
- Keynote speaker Sayre Quevedo, producer at Latino USA who has worked in the US and El Salvador on multimedia projects (including an award-winning personal story The Quevedos), and is an alum of YR Media and also OutLoud, a youth media program for LGBTQ youth that is now a brand of YR Media
- Youth-led panel featuring media projects from the network
- Writing workshops from YouthSpeaks
- A variety of skills workshops including: photography, illustration, social media design software, documentary production, social media best practices, interviewing, public records requests, arts/culture journalism, mental health support for student journalists
Adizah Eghan with students, Sayre Quevedo, Latino USA, & Shooting Better Photos workshop
Full Speakers List:
Adizah Eghan, Audio Producer, Snap Judgment
Noé Montes, Photographer
Alex Espinoza, Social Media Producer/ YR Media
Jarvis Subia, Poet/ Youth Speaks
Tiffani Parrish, Case Manager/ YR Media
Erika Aguilar, Podcast Host, Reporter, Producer/ KQED
Bryan Mendez & Olivia Rodriguez/ Coachella Unincorporated
Catherine Madden, Designer & Illustrator
Pendarvis Harshaw, Journalist, Arts Columnist/ KQED
Sayre Quevedo, Producer/ Latino USA
Kody Stoebig & Zyanna Maynard/ the kNOw
Azucena Rasilla, Arts/Culture Reporter
Full Workshop list:
Shooting Better Photos
15-Second Storytelling: How to Cover Live Events
I Live Here (writing workshop)
Supporting Youth as a Caring Adult
Meet the Makers: Youth Journalists share their work
My Ears Are For Interviewing
Turning News Stories Into Documentary Film
Visual Stories: Exploring Illustration and Graphic Journalism
I’m Not Who You Think I Am (writing workshop)
Storytelling for Change
Tips and Tricks on How to Cover Arts and Culture
