NextGenRadio

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

Next Gen 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 Gen 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 Next Gen behind-the-scenes explainer video uses as a backdrop, our March 2023 project at the Wallis Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism at the University of Southern California.

You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions.

Get Project Details

IMPORTANT: You must live within the sponsors’ city/state/region and be there the week of the program. Our IJA projects are the lone exception.

Here is our tentative schedule for 2023:                         

  • St Louis Public Radio Sept 17-22.                                                        
  • IJA-Next Gen Radio: Indigenous (Oklahoma) Oct 1-6.       
  • Oregon Public Broadcasting Oct 22-27.                                            (APP DEADLINE SUNDAY, OCT 1, MIDNIGHT PT)
  • IJA-Next Gen Radio: Indigenous (ABQ) Nov 12-17                      (APP DEADLINE SUNDAY OCT 15, MIDNIGHT MT)

PROGRAMMING NOTE:   In 2023, Next Generation Radio is considering the meaning of home. We are looking beyond the physical space and more at the feeling of home that changes as we move, work from home and make other significant life changes. What is home to you?

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

“Como una estudiante, NextGenRadio fue mi primera mirada al mundo del periodismo multimedia. Me dio las herramientas necesarias para mejor contar nuestras historias y me ayudó cultivar conexiones que estoy agradecía de tener.”

Luisa M. Suarez, WHYY Philadelphia 2019