Radio Rootz broke ground this 2006 school year with a new program in the nation's capitol. Washington, D.C. resident and independent radio producer Selina Musuta signed up with Radio Rootz to bring a comprehensive media literacy program to the district's students as our first DC coordinator. Twice a week, Selina meets with 5 to 7 middle and high school students at Cesar Chavez Public Charter High School for Public Policy. Chavez has two campuses in the district. Selina visits the Parkside Campus of Cesar Chavez, which is located right off the orange line metro stop of Minnesota Avenue. The school has gone through their own scheduling from a year -long elective class to a semester long after-school program.
Our most consistent students have been the middle schoolers: John, Lindsey, and Ke'von. We've covered a number of media literacy subjects since February 2007 such as what is the media, commercial versus public radio, the role of the Federal Communication Commission, and advertising. Every session we listen to various radio pieces and discuss the content and form of the piece ranging from vox pops to commentaries. Most pieces that are heard by the students are also produced by youth. Halfway into the 2007 semester, Cesar Chavez students produced a short segment on what they find offensive in the media. Last semester, students produced a Halloween piece on what they found scary for WBAI's morning show, Wakeup Call.
As the semester winds down, Cesar Chavez students are looking forward to field trips to the community radio station WPFW 89.3FM, commercial station WKYS 99.5 FM; as well as a tour of the FCC. Listen to pieces created by Cesar Chavez students!

Cesar Chavez Capstone Program

Radio Rootz DC coordinator Selina Musuta worked with Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy teachers to plan a two-week public policy capstone program for one class. Each year, Cesar Chavez scholars investigate a public policy issue through research, field trips, meeting with experts in the field, and participation in activities that promote possible solutions or public awareness.
In mid-May, students chose an issue they could create a project around. Students decided to learn about HIV/AIDS infection rates in the district. They also chose to learn more about radio. The teachers decided that the students could use what they learned about HIV/AIDS to produce a public service announcement (PSA). Selina worked with teachers to develop the main objectives and created a tentative outline for the program. Our main teaching objectives around PSAs included defining what they are and explaining how they get aired. This included lessons on the advertising industry; both commercial and non-commercial. Students learned the techniques that advertisers use to sell products. Students also analyzed commercial and public service announcements’ messages.
To prepare the students for the ins and outs of the PSA industry, students went on three field trips: STD clinic, WPFW (non-commercial radio station), and  WHUR (commercial radio station). They also heard from a guest speaker of an advertising agency. Students were interviewed on both WPFW and WHUR concerning their research.
After gathering information and sources, students were divided into two groups to produce two PSAs. They learned how to use sound effects, how to develop a script, and how to make decisions around targeting a message. They presented what they learned to their 9th grade class.
Check out the PSAs!