Illustration by Lauren Ibañez
Texas Newsroom | September 2021
What does it mean to be an American?
We are finding, coaching and training public media’s next generation. This #nprnextgenradio project is created in Texas, where six talented reporters are participating in a week-long state-of-the-art training program.
In this project we are speaking to people representing a diversity of experiences and backgrounds in gender identity, physical ability, whether they are Indigenous, native born, a refugee or an immigrant without legal status—to ask what it means to be an “American.”
How the history of Houston shaped one man’s work as an ethnomusicologist
by FABIANA CHAPARRO
For one Houstonian, a vinyl record isn’t just a record — it’s a gateway to escapism, history and a connection to his city and country. As an ethnomusicologist, Jason “Flash Gordon Parks” Wood’s life mission is to document the unknown corners of Houston’s music scene.
Split between two countries: Mexican-American martial artist must choose which colors to wear
by JACKIE IBARRA
As a citizen of both the United States and Mexico, Sofi Gonzalez belongs to both countries. That hasn’t always been easy. Her life has been about blending — literally and figuratively — blending uniforms, cultures and identities.
Restrictive new Texas abortion law won’t stop the work of this life-long reproductive rights advocate
by MIZELLE MAYO
Under the new Texas law, anyone who helps someone obtain an abortion after six weeks — including driving them to a clinic — could be sued for a minimum of $10,000. That puts Rachel Carter, a full-time volunteer with an Austin-based nonprofit providing reproductive resources and services, at risk.
This Austin native holds the door open to his neighborhood’s car club tradition
by PETE RAMIREZ
As West Dallas grows, a longtime resident empowers his neighbors to have the loudest voice
by SHARDAE WHITE
In recent years, West Dallas has gone through a lot of changes – oftentimes at the expense of Black and brown folks who live there. Raul Reyes Jr. leads the fight to make sure new development benefits the community.
Meet the El Paso man fighting for farmworkers during COVID-19
by MARIA RAMOS PACHECO
Carlos Marentes was born in Ciudad Juárez, México and both of his parents were farmworkers. As a child, he longed for the American dream. Then, in 1970, he started to work in the fields of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He saw exploitation, abuses of human rights and realized how vulnerable farmworkers were. His first dream came to an end, but a life of fighting for farmworkers began.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The Next Generation Radio Project is a week-long digital journalism training project designed to give competitively selected participants, who are interested in radio and journalism, the skills and opportunity to report and produce their own multimedia story. Those chosen for the project are paired with a professional journalist who serves as their mentor.
This edition of the #NPRNextGenRadio project was produced in collaboration with:
- Managing Editor, Stephanie Kuo, Director of Training, PRX
- Digital editors, Stephanie Federico, Digital Editor, KUT; Rachel Osier Lindley, Senior Editor, The Texas Newsroom, KERA
- Visuals, Erica Lee, freelance photojournalist, New Jersey; Kevin Beaty, photojournalist, The Denverite/Colorado Public Radio
- Illustrators Ard Su, Lauren Ibañez, and Natalia Polanco
- Web developer, Robert Boos, Metropolitan State University
- Audio techs: Selena Seay-Reynolds, lead Next Gen audio engineer/production assistant "Wondery; Sean Cronen, Music Mix Engineer/Producer, The Texas Monthly
Our journalist/mentors for this project were:
- Stella Chavez, Immigration and Demographics Reporter, KERA
- Dr. Jenn Erdely, Associate Professor, Journalism, Prairie View A&M
- Dani Matias, Morning Editor Producer/Host, KUT
- Alejandra Martinez, Reporter, KERA
- Monica Ortiz Uribe, Multimedia Reporter, USA Today Networks, The El Paso Times
- Laura Rice, Managing Producer, The Texas Standard, KUT
- Special thanks to Amy Hinojosa, HUB Project Manager, KERA
NPR’s Next Generation Radio program is directed by its founder, Doug Mitchell.