Capital Public Radio | October 2021
What does it mean to be an American?
We are finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation. This #nprnextgenradio project is created in partnership with Capital Public Radio, with six talented reporters participating in a week-long state-of-the-art training program.
In this project we are speaking to people representing a diversity of experiences and backgrounds in gender identity, physical ability, whether they are Indigenous, native born, a refugee or an immigrant without legal status—to ask what it means to be an “American.”
Not easily defeated’: Chinese American business owner builds family, community in San Francisco’s Chinatown
Elaine Cheung migrated from Hong Kong to California in 1990. She built and grew a skin care business in San Francisco’s Chinatown, eventually bringing her father, mother and three siblings. Her Cheung’s efforts helped shape the first two-generations of Chinese Americans in her family.
‘Being a Black woman is empowering’: Army veteran pushes against racial stereotypes
Nikki Schmelzle likes challenges. In fact, she embraces it. As a black woman growing up in the south, Schmelzle faced the pressures of a racist society on a daily basis. But Schmelzle always saw these experiences as a chance to push against stereotypes that people have of black women.
Am I a ghost? A Black and Indigenous college student embodies dual identity
Sunnie Ishtimonaei, a Black and Chickasaw College student living in Oakland, is navigating what it means to be American and a Black Native. She shares the sometimes lonely experience of not feeling wholly seen by either her Black or Native communities, but finds the beauty in being a descendant of rich traditions and culture.
From South Africa to America: Pursuing opportunity and raising family in a new country
How a biracial artist grew to appreciate her American identity through art and activism
The life of an artist and activist wasn’t something Abi Mustapha had originally planned for herself.
A Nicaraguan immigrant’s journey to find refuge and belonging in America
by PAUL C. KELLY CAMPOS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The Next Generation Radio Project is a week-long digital journalism training project designed to give competitively selected participants, who are interested in radio and journalism, the skills and opportunity to report and produce their own multimedia story. Those chosen for the project are paired with a professional journalist who serves as their mentor.
This edition of the #NPRNextGenRadio project was produced in collaboration with:
- Managing Editor – Traci Tong, Editor, Public Media Journalists Association, Boston, MA
- Digital Editors – Michelle Faust Raghavan, Equity Initiative Manager, Solutions Journalism Network, Los Angeles, CA; Marnette Federis, Managing Editor, Stanford Journalism Program, San Jose, CA; Megan Manata, NextGen alumna, Digital Producer, Capital Public Radio, Los Angeles, CA
- Audio Tech – Selena Seay-Reynolds, lead NextGen audio engineer/production assistant “Wondery,” Los Angeles; Tom Krymkowski, Senior Technical eLearning Developer, Splunk, San Francisco, CA.
- Audio Tech Apprentice – Eric Abercrombie, Sacramento, CA
- Editorial Illustrators – Ard Su, Freelance, New York City, Emily Whang, Freelance, Baltimore, Maryland, and Eejoon Choi, Freelance, Los Angeles, CA
- Visuals – Erica Lee, freelance photojournalist, Cresskill New Jersey; Andrew Nixon, Visual Journalist, Capital Public Radio, Sacramento, CA, Sara Nevis, NextGen alumna/Photo Intern, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA
- Web Developer – Robert Boos, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis
Our journalist/mentors for this project were:
- Eli Chen, Senior Podcast Editor, National Geographic, St. Louis, MO • Tiffany Camhi, “All Things Considered,” Host, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland, OR
- Devin Katayama, Editor of Talent and Development, KQED, San Francisco, CA
- Cristina Kim, Race and Equity Reporter, KPBS, San Diego, CA
- Laura Tsutsui, NextGen alumna, Producer, “The Confluence” WESA Pittsburgh, PA
- Janelle Salanga, Next Gen alumna, Northern California reporter, Capital Public Radio, Chico, CA
NPR’s Next Generation Radio program is directed by its founder, Doug Mitchell.