By Wesley Wong
Listen Up! is a project of Learning Matters, Inc. which produces
the Merrow report, PBS and NPR's premier documentary series on youth
and learning. Founded two years ago, Listen Up! consists of a network
of youth media producers creating digital public service messages.
Youths nationwide are given the opportunity to research, write, produce,
edit and distribute their own digital short clips. The best of these
youth-produced messages are then aired as parts of public service
television programming.
Listenup.org is this movement's web presence. It is a simple web
site that is easily navigable. Upon entering the site, users are presented
with three options - "Watch!", "Connect!" and
"Produce!". Under "Watch!" users can select to
view the youth produced videos organized by geographical origin or
by the issues they address. The Quicktime clips are all approximately
20 seconds long, and address a range of topics from substance abuse
to talking to parents. "Connect!" takes users to the latest
youth producer news, a list of nationwide production centers, and
links to external sites for more information on youth problems. Finally
"Produce!" provides information to aspiring video producers
to research their topics and learn how to produce effective messages.
Overall, the site lacks a sense of unity. The "Watch!"
section is simply a list of video clips for users to view. "Connect!"
provides news that is targeted at the organizers of this program,
rather than the youth segments the videos are trying to appeal to.
"Produce!" consists of a production manual presented in
an online format, and a set of links to sites with topical statistics
on topics such as race, poverty and drugs. The site seems more of
an online version of the Listen Up! print brochures, rather than a
well-conceived web experience for teens. For example, the site lacks
any discussion forums for its visitors - a feature which teens really
enjoy. The problem with many television-based messages is their lack
of interactivity. The teen is able to view the public service announcement,
but cannot share his thoughts and reactions. The youth produced messages
of Listen Up! combined with the community-building power of the Internet
has the potential to be a very effective platform for educating youths.
The only step listenup.org takes in this direction is a short survey
that follows each video clip.
The actual video shorts produced by Listen Up! are creative and engaging.
It is immediately apparent that the process of producing these videos
must be a fun and educational experience. The web site, however, does
not live up to its potential. It is primarily an opportunity for users
to view these videos online. Rather than a simple showcase for the
material, listenup.org needs further development to become a true
channel for educating teens. Only then can it share the enriching
experience of Listen Up! participants with teens throughout the web.