Youth Radio Wins Gracie Awards
Prestigious Media Organization Awards Youth Radio
New York, NY –The American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) has announced Youth Radio as the winner of two Gracie Allen Awards®. 
Youth Radio’s Generation Katrina: Youth Voices From New Orleans won a national Gracie Award® for Outstanding Documentary. The hour-long special was distributed nationally by Public Radio International. Generation Katrina offers distinctive perspectives from New Orleans youth on serious issues facing the city, including heightened levels of violent crime, toxic waste generated by the storm, and how young people are rebuilding the city. To produce Generation Katrina Youth Radio collaborated with many New Orleans based organizations to identify stories and youth reporters and perspectives.
Youth Radio’s Refusing To Fight won a local market Gracie Award® for Outstanding Documentary – Short Format. Refusing To Fight aired on KQED in the San Francisco Bay Area. The public affairs show profiled two young men who deserted military service by relocating to a small British Columbia town, and the consequences of their decisions. In addition to Youth Radio, this year’s national winners include NBC’s Tina Fey, TNT’s Holly Hunter and talk show host Suze Orman.
The national winners will be honored at the 33rd Annual Gracie Awards® Gala on Wednesday, May 28 at the New York Marriott Marquis. The local market winners will be honored at the Gracies Luncheon on Thursday, May 29 at Tavern on the Green. The events benefit the Foundation of American Women in Radio & Television.
In Youth Radio’s seventeen-year history it has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the George Foster Peabody Award, the Alfred I. DuPont Award, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the Grand Award for Best Information Program and Gold Medal in Social Issues & Current Events at the 2007 New York Festivals Radio and Programming Awards.
About Youth Radio
Founded in 1990, Youth Radio, the nation’s premiere youth media organization is based in Oakland, California. Youth Radio teaches young people between the ages of 14 and 24 journalism for multimedia formats including radio, web and video. Youth Radio is also a full service youth development agency, offering academic support, job placement and access to licensed clinicians. Youth Radio reports and commentaries can be heard on outlets such as National Public Radio, Public Radio International and iTunes to name a few. In addition to Youth Radio’s Oakland headquarters, the organization has bureaus in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington, DC.
About AWRT
The year 2008 marks the 57th Anniversary of American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT), the longest established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment. AWRT carries forth its mission by educating, advocating and acting as a resource to its members and the industry at large. Founded in 1951, AWRT works to improve the quality of electronic media; promote the entry, development and advancement of women in the field; foster communication and idea exchange; and give back to the community we serve.
About Public Radio International
Founded in 1983, Public Radio International leads media by producing, acquiring and distributing innovative content that enables U.S. audiences to "hear a different voice," bringing new voices, global journalism and cultural perspectives to the public airwaves. Through partnerships with BBC World Service and station-based and independent producers, the Minneapolis-based network provides over 400 hours of programming each week, content that is broadcast and streamed online by 827 PRI affiliates nationwide, whose radio broadcasts reach over 29 million listeners each week.