Who will groom Minnesota's new public radio journalists of color?

Who will lead the movement and heed the challenge to groom young public radio journalists of color? Many questions lay in my head – restless.

When I check Minnesota Public Radio (MPR’s) web presence for internships or any other opportunities to grow and learn, I see they’ve added more station logos to the top margin of that web page. With each new logo, I assume that, this means they’ve added a new radio station to their network.

I wonder: if they changed their investments, from that of adding more arms to their network, to investing in the next generation of public radio storytellers wouldn’t that be a path with better foresight?

Both National Public Radio (NPR) and Chicago Public Radio have a person of color who is charged with grooming the next generation, regardless, but cognizant of their color. The more local question (in Minnesota’s Twin Cities) is why MPR or American Public Media Group (APMG) doesn’t act as NPR, or even Chicago Public Radio, does?
I admit that I understand little of the money and the machinations of MPR. They have one down-to-earth human resources person, who handles internship hiring. I have spoken to this person; she’s nice enough. She seems to be a straight shooter. They focus very basically on the next generation; every year they post a minority fellowship.

Public radio’s flavor, verve and vitality have often rested with the local community. These stations, like KFAI, are where you can hear many stories that public radio member stations may not understand. African-Americans, and communities of color in general, have often had these stations – their programs, voices and sensibilities as a community anchor. The community radio stations were a source of pride. I use the past tense because those stations seem to dwindle.

While those community stations are important and have their own place, they have a meager reach, especially as their ranks shrink. When journalists and storytellers of color want their voices and concerns to go beyond the avenues of their neighborhood, they need to file for larger houses, like MPR.

Granted the public radio system has returned to an awkward phase; its audience is barely growing. On one hand, which the “New York Times” regularly acknowledges, on April 27th and May 3rd, there are fewer young people who listen to it. They would like to attract enough young people to assure the system that a new generation might be set; also few young people have historic memory or an interest in what radio meant to the twentieth century. I want to believe that boldness and a will to risk what might start a new avenue will help.

That’s why I am working with Prof. Catherine R. Squires, at the University of Minnesota, to design a project that will introduce public radio to students at storytelling Gordon Parks High School. I hope, trigger a desire and acknowledge of this craft, so we can create and fill that need for these public radio voices.