“Youth Civic News”
Youth Civic News (YCN) mentorship program powered by the Philadelphia Film Factory (Philm Factory) with instructors from We Talk Weekly, is a yearly educational mentoring program that uses TV production, news, media and journalism to promote youth civic engagement and civic literacy for youth between the ages of 15-24. Youth are given the tools to produce and run their own broadcasted radio/news show.
Youth participants will have the opportunity to be TV/Radio Hosts, write content for news segments, learn camera operations and equipment for broadcasting and much more! Our partners We Talk Weekly, will be the instructors for each session.
The We Talk Weekly team have backgrounds ranging from film production, live entertainment, theater, journalism, radio broadcasting/ internet radio, podcasts, and multimedia. With We Talk Weekly’s expertise, we can also find ways to reach our target youth audience. We Talk Weekly has amassed over 43K followers, a reach of 2 million combined across social media platforms, and 13k radio listeners monthly from their media ventures.
Youth Civic News is a part of Every Voice, Every Vote, a collaborative project managed by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Lead support for Every Voice, Every Vote in 2024 and 2025 is provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional funding from The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Comcast NBC Universal, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Henry L. Kimelman Family Foundation, Judy and Peter Leone, Arctos Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, 25th Century Foundation, and Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation. To learn more about the project and view a full list of supporters, visit www.everyvoice-everyvote.org. Editorial content is created independently of the project’s donors
Philm Factory’s “Youth Civic News” Celebrates Program Completion with Awards Ceremony on December 8th, 2023
On December 8th, 2023, Philm Factory hosted a vibrant celebration marking the successful completion of its “Youth Civic News” program. The event recognized and honored the dedication of young participants who had spent the past three months immersed in training in journalism, civics, and TV production.
The participants, a dynamic group of youth from around Philadelphia, were celebrated for their hard work and achievements throughout the course. The program, designed to equip them with essential skills for both journalism and active civic engagement, culminated in the production of five episodes of “Youth Civic News”—a show created by the youth, for the youth, with a focus on critical issues affecting their communities.
During the celebration, awards were presented to the youth for their commitment, growth, and exceptional work during the training. The ceremony highlighted their accomplishments, from writing and reporting stories to mastering the technical aspects of TV production.
As the youth finalize the last of their five episodes, the program has already made a significant impact. These young journalists have not only gained valuable skills but have also learned to approach important civic topics with a fresh perspective, bringing new voices to the conversation about local and global issues.
Philm Factory’s “Youth Civic News” program is part of the organization’s larger mission to empower the next generation of leaders by providing them with the tools and opportunities to make their voices heard. As the participants continue to refine their final episodes, they are already looking forward to showcasing their work and engaging with their communities through the lens of both journalism and civic action.
The event was a powerful reminder of the potential within youth when given the opportunity to grow, learn, and contribute. The future of youth-led media looks brighter than ever thanks to initiatives like “Youth Civic News” and the dedication of its participants.
GALLERY
