Blunt Youth Radio Project

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WMPG’s Blunt Youth Radio Project brings together Maine teenagers to produce audio stories and interviews on topics that matter to them. Finished work is aired on WMPG or made available in podcast format.

The young people handle all aspects of audio production: story development, contacting interview subjects, reporting, recording, editing, on-air hosting, broadcast engineering, podcast production, and sharing and promoting finished audio pieces. Whether youth are participating in Blunt-hosted workshops or are long-term audio correspondents, there is room for everyone to be part of our audio team. 

Blunt Youth Radio Project is the winner of thirteen regional and national broadcasting awards. Blunt has been on air for 20 years, and our work has aired on various NPR programs, the BBC, Marketplace, and This American Life, as well as many stations around the country through the Public Radio Exchange. Our broadcast can be heard Tuesday nights from 7:30-8:30 EST on WMPG-FM, Greater Portland, Community Radio

Series

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4 Pieces

Blunt Presents Special Coverage of the 2004 Presidential Election

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3 Pieces

Teens and their families talk about S-E-X.

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3 Pieces

Blunt youth producers explore the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by documenting the displaced, and taking at hard look at the racial inequality exposed by the storm.

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22 Pieces

Incarcerated youth from the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland, Maine tell stories of life behind bars.

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8 Pieces

Blunt goes to the Maine Women's Lobby Economic Summit.

Caption: Messges from Japan, Credit: Eleanor Graf
9 Pieces

Blunt Youth Radio is trying to give Japanese people a way to tell the story of their experience following the March 11, 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. Messages from Japan is gathering and sharing the stories of regular Japanese people since the devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

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5 Pieces

Young people all over the country are deeply driven to be youth climate activists. One way they are doing this is by figuring out how to best use their voice to advocate for the issues that matter most to them. Youth producers from around southern Maine met virtually during the pandemic as part of a 12-week Blunt Youth Radio audio workshop focused on climate activism. These pieces are their final projects created during the workshop.

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13 Pieces

Youth Led Public Affairs Live from Blunt Youth Radio


Pieces

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This is the story of Amy graduating from high school while incarcerated at the Long Creek Youth Development Center (LCYDC) in South Portland, ME. )

Bought by Remix Radio


  • Added: May 17, 2004
  • Length: 02:38
  • Purchases: 1
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Are you afraid of needles? Join Maia Chong in conquering your fears at Portland High's blood drive.

Bought by KBCS 91.3 FM Community Radio, WMPG, KXOT Public Radio, WXLV-FM, and KUNM


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 04:35
  • Purchases: 5
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Mick Pratt, youth reporter, filed this vox-pop, featuring teen opinions on file sharing.

  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 04:13
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Commentator Ethan Jud shares his opinions about file sharing with Metallica drummer and spokesperson, Lars Ulrich.

Bought by WXLV-FM


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 04:23
  • Purchases: 1
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Listen to George tell the story of how he went from being an innocent kid to surviving two brushes with cancer to being locked up at Long Creek You...

Bought by Remix Radio


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 09:28
  • Purchases: 1
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Casey Brackett takes a tour through the personals section of a local newspaper.

Bought by Radio Catskill


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 03:56
  • Purchases: 1
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Spencer Scott interviews Cpl. Chris Kotch an Iraq War Veteran who recently returned to the US with a devastating throat injury.

Bought by PRX Remix, WMPG, and KUNM


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 02:26
  • Purchases: 3
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Spencer Scott interviews Sargeant Jim Johnson of the Maine National Guard as he departs for eighteen months in Iraq.

Bought by WXLV-FM, WMPG, and KUOW


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 06:22
  • Purchases: 3
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Youth reporter, Justin Norton breaks down some simple facts about the upcoming presidential election.

  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 01:37
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Amy reflects on losing a baby at a young age.

Bought by Remix Radio and KUNM


  • Added: Apr 19, 2004
  • Length: 03:31
  • Purchases: 2