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Radio Rookie AJ Frazier spent his 8th grade year reporting on the effect of New York City's public school policy changes on him. His story was just featured in Schooled: Teens' Stories About American Public Education. This hour-long youth produced special is a collaboration between Seattle's KUOW and Generation PRX.

This fall, we began a new broadcast workshop in Flushing, Queens in partnership with the Flushing YMCA. During the past month, the Rookies have started to roll through their lessons, putting their new skills to practice. They are well on their way to making their radio documentaries.

One of the questions I’ve been asked most by adults when they hear that I produce Radio Rookies is “why do teenagers always want to tell personal stories?” My initial reaction is to feel defensive and even a bit dismissive of the point (on behalf of the Rookies themselves and the program), but of course it is a legitimate question. Why are Rookies stories so often personal in nature? Why not encourage them to reach far and wide for their stories, just as professional journalists must do for theirs?

The third round of Short Wave Rookies comes from Queens, NY. We collaborated with Mapping Main Street, a documentary project that set out to tell the stories of all the Main Streets in the United States.

At the end of August a group of Radio Rookies attended the first annual Red Hook Initiative Youth Radio Conference at the Brecht Forum in Manhattan. Here, Bronx Rookie Vikky Cruz reports back on the day.

This Friday (7/10), tune in to WNYC at 2pm to AM820 or on Saturday (7/11) at 4pm on 93.9FM to hear 'Growing Up, Getting By', the first ever Radio Rookies Hour special. We revisit some stories from the past ten years, and host Marianne McCune checks in with some of them to find out what happened next.

I like to say I'm more than half way done, but really I don't know what percentage. All I know is I have a lot to work on and lately (meaning the last month and a half) I haven't done any work because I've been studying.

During my workshop in the fall of 2004, we got microphones I thought resembled giant lollipops. I was always afraid I'd stick its head near the interviewee's mouth too fast and vigorously causing a bruised lip or a chipped tooth. I'd have to plead for mercy in an emergency room amidst wailing ambulance sirens and explain that I was only trying to complete an assignment for my radio workshop. Thankfully, this never happened.

Defining a great story or angle for a topic is one of the trickiest moments in the Radio Rookies workshop.  The Rookie has to find a story idea that will capture her attention for six months, a topic that will have meaning to a greater audience.  Sometimes the perfect story idea jumps out during the first day of workshop, but usually the process takes building trust, several conversations, and reflection to find the perfect story idea.

The Radio Rookies Blog is a place for program staff and participants to take you behind the scenes. You'll hear from the producers and the Rookies, past and present. Check back often to hear what’s on the Rookies’ minds.