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Young people encounter a constant stream of information online, from social media posts and videos to news and conversations with friends and family. A new audio series from W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) partner Be Loud Studios puts New Orleans youth behind the microphone to explore how they make sense of it — and decide what and whom to trust.
“Loud Stories: Youth on Misinformation” features original audio stories created by 17 New Orleans high school students during a five-day program this summer. Participants drew on their own experiences, researched misinformation and interviewed experts and community leaders about topics ranging from COVID-19 and public health to body image and social media.
The stories are available at BeLoudStories.org and will air on WWNO 89.9 FM, New Orleans’ NPR member station, throughout October.
Participants also strengthened their skills and confidence as storytellers. In a post-program survey, 94% of respondents said they understood how misinformation affects their community, while 89% said they felt more confident expressing themselves. One participant described their favorite part of the program as “how we’re able to voice our opinions without judgement.”
“Loud Stories is designed around one principle: young people already have valid stories to tell,” said Alex Owens, co-founder and executive director of Be Loud Studios. “Our role isn’t to give them a voice. It’s to give them the tools, the audience and the trust to tell those stories on their own terms. When young people investigate issues like misinformation on the mic, they don’t just become better storytellers; they become more informed citizens and stronger leaders in their communities.”
The project builds on Be Loud Studio’s ongoing work supporting young New Orleanian storytellers. Previous cohorts have explored artificial intelligence, the legacy of Hurricane Katrina and how young people are navigating the digital world.
Be Loud is also using lessons from the project to develop a curriculum for educators to engage students in conversations about misinformation and new media. The organization will continue those conversations through community dinners where student DJs share their work and community members can discuss misinformation together.
The project was supported by WKKF and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.