Engagement with the audience is core to the series. Every other week, Bess and Ghaffary appear in a more casual talk show-like format to reflect on the previous week’s episode. They share their personal feelings and experiences with the issues, address viewers’ comments and questions, and encourage teens to contribute their own story ideas. “We want to develop a relationship with our audience,” says Annelise Wunderlich, Above the Noise series producer. “The goal of these episodes is to give us a deeper understanding of viewers’ needs and concerns, and to give teens a sense of ownership over the series.”
The series draws from KQED’s expertise as a public media organization dedicated to investigating scientific and news topics with the highest journalistic standards. Above the Noise leverages KQED editorial staff, connections with outside journalists, top research institutions, and youth media in the Bay Area. The series also incorporates feedback from a youth advisory panel of 13 Bay Area teens from diverse backgrounds. “With Above the Noise we aspire to engage with youth directly about the issues that are affecting them,” says Robin Mencher, Executive Director, KQED Learning. “We want to encourage youth to develop their ability to understand and use the power of facts and the research behind them, and challenge their own assumptions about whatever might be happening in the news, social media, and their own lives.”
Shirin echoes those aspirations: “I hope viewers will learn something new with every episode. And over time, learn how to use a scientific approach to make an informed argument about complicated topics that come up in the news every day.”
Above the Noise is a production of KQED’s education unit, KQED Learning, which provides educators and young people free content, cutting-edge tools, and activities that promote civic engagement, creative expression and problem-solving in the classroom using digital media. “KQED Learning has steadily developed a reputation among educators as a go-to resource for finding tools for teaching media literacy and personal connections to learning,” says David Markus, Executive in Charge, KQED Arts, Food, and Education. “Above the Noise will be a powerful tool for teachers and students in the classroom and beyond.”
To subscribe to Above the Noise and start watching, visit youtube.com/abovethenoise.
About the Hosts
Myles Bess is an aspiring filmmaker and writer from Oakland, California. Prior to joining KQED he worked for Youth Radio in Oakland where he reported on juvenile justice, education, and community organizing issues. His stories have appeared on National Public Radio, Marketplace and the San Francisco Chronicle. Currently a student at San Francisco State University studying broadcast and electronic communication, Bess looks forward to expanding his knowledge and understanding of multimedia while tackling issues that hit close to home.
Shirin Ghaffary is a freelance journalist and recent graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in English and International Economics. As a student, Ghaffary ran the news desk of the Daily Californian. She has also interned and worked for a number of media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and TechCrunch. In addition to her journalistic pursuits, she presently works for a software startup, and is especially excited about topics that relate to tech.
Producer Credits
Executive Producer, Annelise Wunderlich
Producers, Derek Lartaud and Lauren Farrar
Support
S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
David Bulfer and Kelly Pope
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation
The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation
The Koret Foundation
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
Smart Family Foundation
The Vadasz Family Foundation
About KQED Learning
KQED Learning provides educators and young people multimedia content, experiential activities, and professional tools to create learning environments of the 21st century by promoting civic engagement, creative expression, and problem solving using digital media.
About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS affiliate based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source and leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.
www.kqed.org
