Public radio journalism project focuses on Tulsa Race Massacre

Monday, April 26, 2021

Media Contact: Rachel Hubbard | KOSU Radio Executive Director | 405-896-4324 | rachel.hubbard@okstate.edu

Next Generation Radio returns to KOSU, Oklahoma’s flagship NPR station, April 25-30 with a spotlight on the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Next Generation Radio is a five-day digital journalism and audio training project focused on finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation of journalists. Since 2013, Next Generation Radio has trained more than 300 journalists who have gone on to work for NPR, American Public Media, PRX and dozens of public radio stations across the country. Notable alumni include Audie Cornish, co-host of All Things Considered and Shereen Marisol Meraji, co-host of NPR’s Code Switch podcast.

The 2021 edition is all-remote due to the pandemic, but the project’s design remains largely the same. Participants will learn how to report and produce their own non-narrated audio piece and multimedia story. A professional journalist will also be paired with each participant and serve as their coach for the week.

The six selected reporters will each produce a piece featuring individuals who will speak about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and what has happened since.

Former KOSU reporter and OSU alumnus Doug Mitchell (‘86) is the founder and project director of Next Generation Radio. He also serves as a consultant and adviser to many national and international journalism organizations.

“This will be our third project back home with my alma mater and the station that gave me my start,” Mitchell said. “All these years later, I’ve found it important to take what I learned then and apply it now, giving young people a real-time opportunity to test themselves in a nurturing environment.”

For KOSU, the project is in line with the station’s commitment to train journalists that reflect all of Oklahoma.

“I started as a student at KOSU because someone gave me an opportunity,” said KOSU Executive Director Rachel Hubbard. “That opportunity proved pivotal in my career path, and I know the same is true for so many NextGen participants.”

The Tulsa Next Generation Radio project is a collaboration between the OSU School of Strategic Communications and KOSU and will be held on the campus of OSU-Tulsa.

“It is our duty as a land-grant institution to help people understand Oklahoma history,” said Craig Freeman, director of and professor in OSU’s School of Media and Strategic Communications.

“NextGen provides an incredible educational experience for aspiring radio journalists, who will help educate the world about this important moment in our history.”

The stories produced during the project will air on KOSU, and audience members can track the progress of participants during the week at nextgenradio.org and kosu.org.