As an avid NPR listener, I first heard about Next Gen Radio’s project in St. Louis in 2023. I applied and didn’t get chosen, so when I heard the project was coming back in 2024, I was hesitant to submit another application. The overachiever in me, however, trumped my bruised ego, and I am so happy to have applied and been granted the opportunity to work with Next Gen this year.
I’m a self-taught audio producer with a digital camera always hanging from my hip at family gatherings. I’m also a researcher, so one could say I’m a writer of sorts. I saw NextGen as an opportunity to sharpen all of these skills, learn from professionals, and produce something I could call my own. In addition to research, I teach college-level students, so by polishing my production skills in a condensed training session, I also see many avenues for bringing these activities into my communication and media studies classrooms. Finally, I’m eager to stay connected with folks in the industry, as news is the main focus of my work.
I believe it is always important to continue learning and growing a network. Just because I learned something five years ago in one context doesn’t make me an expert forever. That is especially true for media, where technologies and equipment are rapidly evolving. I’ve always found it challenging to convince others why I’m interested in certain things (Am I a researcher or am I a producer?) but I don’t think you have to pick just one. NextGen is extremely valuable to those who might feel isolated in trying to forge their own path within or alongside the media industry, because the mentors they connect the participants with have done exactly that.