Creating a youth radio program

| August 14, 2017

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A youth radio program is a great way to share the diverse voices and aspirations of children and youth on air, and to encourage budding broadcasters to learn basic radio and communication skills.

But planning and creating a new program with inexperienced contributors can be a challenge. It takes a lot of preparation and patience. Once you get started, there is more work to be done to ensure the program thrives and improves.

The Children’s Radio Foundation in South Africa has created handbooks in French and English to help you through the process of setting up and supporting a youth radio project. These handbooks are aimed at community groups or broadcasters wanting to launch a new youth-focused radio show.

The exercises laid out in the handbooks include:

  • Listening and hearing
  • Storytelling
  • Interviewing
  • Commentaries
  • Public service announcements and jingles
  • Audio dialogues
  • Planning and recording a live magazine show

The curriculum is also designed to build confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills so that young people can use radio to speak out about their concerns and connect with the wider community.

To read the whole handbook in English, go to: http://www.childrensradiofoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Standard-Facilitators-Manual-2013.pdf

To read the whole handbook in French, go to: http://www.childrensradiofoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/DRC_Manuel_des_formateurs_2016.pdf