NextGenRadio

Finding, coaching and training public media's next generation.

Next Generation Radio is a 5-day, audio-focused, digital journalism project. Our hybrid (some people in-person, some not) program is designed to give competitively selected participants the opportunity to learn how to report and produce a non-narrated audio piece and a companion multimedia story. Those chosen for the program are paired with a professional journalist, who serves as their mentor for the week, and the chosen participant is paid a stipend for their work.

Want to learn more?

NPR’s Next Generation Radio projects are hybrid (remote and in-person). Our selected cohort will report from where they are. Staffing varies with each project but mentors fit into these general categories.

This video was produced and edited by 2017 alumna Katherine Ellis. Illustrations by Yunyi Dai and Ard Su.

You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions.

Get Project Details

We do hybrid projects. Some people can be in-person, and some can do it from home. 

Please Note: You must live within the sponsor’s city/state/region. Our NAJA projects are the lone exception to this rule.

Here is our tentative schedule:                                                     

  • University of Southern California  March 12-17
  • NAJA Next Gen Radio: Indigenous April 16-21 (Syracuse University)
  • Gulf States Newsroom April 30 – May 5 (WBHM)
  • Chicago Public Media/WBEZ June 18-24
  • Iowa Public Radio July 9-14
  • WUNC/North Carolina Public Radio July 30 – Aug 4
  • Colorado Public Radio Aug 13-18
  • Texas Newsroom Sept 3-8 (El Paso)
  • St Louis Public Radio Sept 17-22
  • Capital Public Radio Oct 1-6 
  • Oregon Public Broadcasting Oct 22-27
  • NAJA Next Gen Radio: Indigenous (ABQ) Nov  5-10

Be sure to follow @nextgenradio on IG and Twitter.

Apply to a Project 

See our work!

Take a look at our most recent and past projects and all the work our students and fellows have produced.

Most Recent Project

Past Projects

GIF Illustration of the owner of a Miami based bakery and her shop changing into a muffin.

“The best thing about the Next Generation Radio project is that even though it’s only one week, packed with real-world reporting and audio production experiences, the skills you gain and the connections you make are designed to last a lifetime. Once you’ve proven yourself, you become a part of the NextGen family, having that support and mentorship throughout your journalism career.”

Michelle Baker, University of Nevada, Reno 2019