Analyze and Evaluate Media. Create and Share Media With Authentic Audiences.

Media literacy projects and lessons for middle and high school students to develop the essential skills of analyzing and making media for an authentic audience — inside and outside the classroom. Free from KQED, your public media partner in learning.
A collage of students interviewing, recording, and collaborating with each other. Photo credit: Barak Shrama

New Challenge for 2022-23:
Call for Change

Call for Change

Learn More About This Challenge

Youth Media Challenges

Youth Media Challenges ask students to explore how they see themselves, share their view of the world, or envision a better future. Choose from a range of standards-aligned, media-making projects across content areas that help reach your learning objectives and engage students at the same time.

All challenges come with ready-to-use curriculum and every student submission is published on the KQED Youth Media Showcase. Select submissions will be aired on KQED broadcasts and shared with PBS and NPR member stations around the country.

Explore the 7 current challenges or browse all published student submissions.

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Hot Topic
How Does Social Media Affect the Way Teens Fit In or Express Their Individuality?

You'd think with millions of people posting ideas, photos and funny dances that social media would b...

Schools
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Responses
5

Discussions

Students practice critical thinking as they analyze video prompts, conduct research, and present their own evidence-based perspective in a safe and supportive environment. Video prompts come from the award-winning series Above the Noise and other PBS shows, and they include standards-aligned lesson plans centered on evaluating information and claim-based argument skills.

View all Discussion Topics

What teachers, students, and education leaders have to say…

Merek Chang
High School Biology and Chemistry teacher - City of Industry, CA

"The Sci Doc challenge was an eye-opening experience for me as an educator. I was shocked by the ability many of my students have when it comes to creating and editing videos. Because the Science Documentary challenge does not limit students to a specific topic, students enjoyed having free rein on producing videos on topics that were of interest to them."

Veronika S.
Memorial High, Madison, WI

"It means a lot to me that someone found [my project] interesting and wanted to hear what I have to say. I think that it often feels that you can talk to the people who already know what you think, and they already know who you are, and it doesn’t feel like you’re making a difference, but to have your voice amplified is empowering."

Christina Cantrill
National Writing Project

"We value how KQED Youth Media Challenges support teachers across disciplines to engage students in meaningful work, while also building important skills and practices. The Challenges provide safe and supportive ways for youth to raise their voice about the issues they care about in the world and within their communities."

Public media:
Your partner in learning

KQED is a PBS and NPR affiliate based in San Francisco. KQED’s award-winning education programs help students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms with free youth media resources and professional development.