Courtney Stein

Producer, Radio Rookies

Courtney began working with young people in Minneapolis, where she started a youth-run restaurant in the park across the street from her apartment. She moved to New York to study social work, then went to Maine to learn to produce radio documentaries. In 2007 Courtney combined her radio and youth work backgrounds and joined Radio Rookies as a producer. Now she assists in teaching radio and multimedia workshops and works alongside Rookie Reporters to produce stories for WNYC and NPR.

Courtney Stein appears in the following:

The Women Behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

We've heard about Rosa Parks and her crucial role in the Montgomery bus boycott. But Parks was just one of many women who organized for years. In this episode, those women tell their own story.

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ENCORE: Sexual Cyberbullying: The Modern Day Letter "A"

Wednesday, August 04, 2021

WNYC
We remember Temitayo Fagbenle (1996 – 2021) with this encore presentation of her first Radio Rookies piece.

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Coming Out, Coming Forward

Monday, December 03, 2018

When he was a young teenager, Luke realized he had to speak up—about who he was and what had happened to him. [Warning: this episode discusses childhood sexual assault].

Episode 9: 'You Just Sit There and Wait for the Next Day to Come'

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Solitary confinement has been proven gravely dangerous for young people. The Marshall Project teamed up with Caught to investigate how widespread the practice remains in New York.

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Episode 2: 'They Look at Me Like a Menace'

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Z navigates a Catch 22 that's familiar to kids in the system: He only gets the help he needs when he acts out, but "turning up" means he can't go home.

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Episode 1: 'I Just Want You to Come Home'

Monday, March 12, 2018

Z is a teenager serving time for armed robbery. Dwayne Betts is a lawyer who spent nine years of his youth incarcerated. The same criminal justice policies landed them in jail.

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One Immigrant's Anxiety in Trump's America

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

The Trump Administration's policies have taken a deep psychological toll on undocumented immigrants. Like this 26-year-old, former Radio Rookie whose been in the U.S. since she was five.

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Growing Up Without Parents, Life After Deportation

Thursday, November 03, 2016

“If my parents hadn’t been deported maybe I wouldn’t be who I am today -- so determined and self-driven.” Listen to Wayner's story.

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My Sister, The Cop

Friday, May 06, 2016

WNYC
Jared Marcelle had enough negative interactions with the NYPD that he’d come to mistrust police. His views of policing are complex now, especially since his sister joined the force.

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Seeking an End to Cycles of Abuse

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Destiny Mabry had a lot in common with her older sister: a love of dance, a bright smile, and excellent jump rope skills. They also both had experience with abusive relationships.

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Why Do I Stay?

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Rainy wanted to understand why she stayed with an older boyfriend who humiliated and physically abused her. So she spent two years reporting from inside the relationship.   

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Radio Rookies Producer's Notebook

Monday, September 14, 2015

Radio Rookies Producer Courtney Stein answers questions about the process behind reporting the Crushed series.

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Nine People, One Bedroom: A Teen's Take on Life In Poverty

Monday, September 22, 2014

WNYC
Jairo Gomez's nine-person family lives in a one-bedroom apartment. He knows education is the way out of poverty, but sometimes being poor makes it difficult to make good choices.

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Radio Rookies Surprises Danielle With A Graduation Ceremony at WNYC

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

WNYC

Radio Rookies hosted a surprise "graduation" ceremony for 2014 high school graduate Danielle Motindabeka at WNYC. Current and past Radio Rookies from as far back as 2004 came to celebrate along with New York Public Radio staff. 

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Radio Rookie Danielle Finds Out Her Regents Exam Results

Thursday, June 26, 2014

WNYC

Radio Rookie Danielle Motindabeka reported this week that she was taking the US History Regents exam for the fourth and final time. It's the one thing standing in the way of her getting her high school diploma. Danielle went to find out her results.

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Why Is Staten Island NYC's OD Capital?

Wednesday, February 05, 2014

WNYC
In New York City, prescription painkiller abuse rates aren't as high as the rest of the country — except on Staten Island, where their impact is wide and deep.

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Radio Rookies DIY: How to Report Your Own Story

Sunday, September 15, 2013

WNYC
This animated short is part of a toolkit of DIY videos we’re creating in partnership with the Hive NYC Learning Network. Educators can use this toolkit to teach students of all ages.
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Sexual Cyberbullying: The Modern Day Letter A

Friday, December 28, 2012

Many teenagers live half their lives on social media sites, and they're writing the rules as they go. One online trend Radio Rookie Temitayo Fagbenle finds disturbing is "slut-shaming".

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Radio Rookies Hosts Live Chat For Teens on Sexual Cyberbullying

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

WNYC

Radio Rookies hosted an in-class live chat to coincide with a new story about sexual cyberbullying. Rookie Reporter Temitayo Fagbenle hosted a facilitated online conversation for high school students to discuss the issues her story brings to light.

 

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Remaining in the Flood Zone, Despite the Warnings

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Staten Island was one of the areas hit hard by massive flooding from Sandy. Among the people that stayed, was the family of 17-year-old Tasina Berkey, a current Radio Rookie. 

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