YR Media is a national network of young journalists and artists collaborating with peers across the country and top media professional to create impactful content. has operated as a non-profit production company in the Bay Area for 25 years, starting in Berkeley, CA and moving to downtown Oakland, CA in 2007. YR was founded by Ellin O'Leary. O' Leary founded Youth Radio in 1992 and served as its first Executive Director. YR invests in future generations by championing the voices of young people and helping build crucial skills in journalism, arts and media. YR has partnered with outlets including Teen Vogue, NPR, Pandora, and NYTimes to further amplify the work of young journalists and artists, and their work has been recognized by awards including the George Foster Peabody Award, Edward R. Murrow Award, and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award.
Mission
YR Media’s mission is to launch young people on education and career pathways in media, technology and creative arts. More than 75% of the high school students they serve each year are low-income or from communities of color. Many are from failing schools.
YR Media Methodology
Education: YR Media provides six months of digital media and technology education to diverse, low-income 14-to-24-year-old young people throughout the Bay Area in journalism, music production, design and code.
Employment: Program graduates are eligible for jobs throughout Youth Radio’s Peabody Award-winning media production company.
Support Services: Participants receive wraparound services including case management, referrals to partner service providers, nutritional support and academic/career advising to support the realization of their personal goals.
Impact
YR Media journalism reaches an audience of 30 million people.
Last year, YR Media students had a 97% high school graduation rate and an 87% college enrollment rate.
YR Media provides more than 250 paid internships per year to young people and our externship program provides direct employment in the communications sector.
YR Media services are provided at no cost to participating youth.
History
Founded in 1993 in Berkeley during a period of heightened youth violence and homicide, Youth Radio was established as an outlet for Bay Area youth to process their experiences and provide an alternative perspective to the prevailing media dialogue. In 2007, Youth Radio moved its headquarters to downtown Oakland, helping transform an under-invested part of the city into a world-class center of art, commerce, and culture. In 2012, Youth Radio reported on the importance of the youth vote at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Youth Radio operates bureaus in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. The flagship of Youth Radio is located in downtown Oakland on Broadway and 17th street.
ADP.FM / All Day Play: YR Media's eclectic online radio station, featuring music from emerging artists and diverse subgenres. Get exposed to a wide spectrum of musical tastes, news, and commentary from Youth Radio’s all-stars, plus mix shows from top Bay Area DJs. Remix Your Life: YR Media's music production and distribution label. Adult ISH: A first-of-its-kind, culture and advice podcast produced by those who are almost adults. 22-year-olds Nyge Turner and Merk Nguyen host conversations with artists and tastemakers about politics, culture, and more.
