Youth media organization looking for teens with guns at home

[Y Press]

Hi, my name is Andrea and I am the radio coach at Y-Press, a youth media organization in Indianapolis. Our journalists, ages 10 through 18, report on issues that matter to them from a youth perspective. Our articles are published in The Indianapolis Star and our radio series are broadcast on WFYI (FM 90.1).

For a piece in our radio series about legal gun use by teens, we are looking to interview kids between the ages of 10 and 18 whose parents have guns in the home for protection and allow the kids to access those weapons. The series will air on WFYI.

We are looking to get started on this story as soon as possible. The name of the minor can be changed in the story at the request of the minor or parents. Interviews can be done in person in the Indy area, or on the phone.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact me at ypress@earthlink.net, or at (317) 444-2010. I work Tuesday through Saturday.

Thank you,
Andrea

 

[shibumiseeker]

I don't have kids so can't be of use there, but I do trust that this bit will be done in a responsible manner and is not simply a piece designed to show how guns are evil and gun owners are all irresponsible for letting their babies play with machine guns in the crib.

You should be aware that gun owners are generally distrustful of the media as we have been burned many, many times, so while we're glad to get positive messages out there about safe and responsible gun ownership and use, we're also very wary of being used by the media in this fashion and the Indianapolis Star has a very poor record in this regard.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I echo shibumiseeker's concerns; I am an avid NPR listener and I catch the Y press reports on occasion. While interesting, I wouldn't call them particularly well sourced or researched, and NPR is pretty loose on factual firearm reporting accuracy as it is. I would suggest you send your young reporters to an Appleseed shoot though, as there are many youngsters there learning proper firearms safety and handling techniques, and American history at the same time.

 

[scottka]

Andrea, thanks for showing interest in today's youth as well as the firearm use of said age range. Hopefully someone here will be able to help you out. I hope the facts will be presented without an agenda or slant. You're in the right place to find responsible gun owners and their families.

 

[youngda9]

The Indianapolis Star is good for the bottom of the bird cage, that's all.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

The Indianapolis Star is good for the bottom of the bird cage, that's all.

Only if the bird can't read.

 

[Mosinowner]

I agree with all these people's concerns about the media. In Dallas we have something similar and gun owners get bashed allot. This might be actual interest but that is highly unlikley. Make sure to post the artical on this forum though

 

[Mosinguy]

No comment.

 

[sharkey]

The Indianapolis Star is good for the bottom of the bird cage, that's all.

I thought animal cruelty was illegal.

 

[pudly]

Sorry for the reception you are getting here Andrea, however it is justified because of a long list of abuses by the media. You may be totally honest and want to present a fair picture, but both the Indy Star and PBS are not exactly considered fair to gun owners. I consider anyone that actually works with you a fool who does not learn from the experience of others.

 

[Classic]

I don't trust any left-leaning media to present gun owners in a positive light. I will tell you this. I fit the definition and my 12 yr old could defend the rest of the family if need arose. She is a darn good shot and confident in her safety skills. I will add that the way I chose to prevent an accident with a loaded firearm is to educate my daughter in their safe use and coach her in marksmanship as opposed to hiding the weapons. (BTW if anyone thinks they can "hide" anything from thir kids - well think again.)

I do find it exceedingly humorous that the Indy Star keeps wondering why they have shrinking circulation and continue to spew forth a litany of left wing "stuff" including most of their political picks. I wish there was a neutral news outlet in Indy (you know, just report the news without a lot of opinion). The Star isn't it.

 

[Arickosmo]

My son is 12 and owns a shotgun and rifle. He has completed hunter safety training and I watch him VERY closely when we shoot or go hunting. He's pretty dang conscientious about his and others' safety. I don't think I want to be in the indy star though.

 

[Y Press]

I echo shibumiseeker's concerns; I am an avid NPR listener and I catch the Y press reports on occasion. While interesting, I wouldn't call them particularly well sourced or researched, and NPR is pretty loose on factual firearm reporting accuracy as it is. I would suggest you send your young reporters to an Appleseed shoot though, as there are many youngsters there learning proper firearms safety and handling techniques, and American history at the same time.

Hi,
Thank you for your suggestion. I actually did attend an Appleseed shoot with three of our teens with the purpose of learning about gun safety training. That will be the subject of one of the pieces in our three-part series about legal use of guns by teens. As for your other concerns, please see my overall response to the postings in the thread.
Happy New Year,
Andrea

 

[Mosinowner]

Hi,
Thank you for your suggestion. I actually did attend an Appleseed shoot with three of our teens with the purpose of learning about gun safety training. That will be the subject of one of the pieces in our three-part series about legal use of guns by teens. As for your other concerns, please see my overall response to the postings in the thread.
Happy New Year,
Andrea

Have you ever shot a firearm?

 

[24Carat]

Not just a troll, a malicious troll. I'm betting this troll is a 27 year old idealistic liberal reporter wanna be.

Now excuse me while I take my 9 year old outside to shoot kittens.

 

[Y Press]

more context about our story

After reading some of the responses, I realized I should have given some more context about our radio series.

Y-Press first became interested in teen gun use about a year ago, when one of our members lost her cousin when he was shot by another young man on the near Northside of Indy. Originally, we planned to do a four-part radio series on teens and guns, with 3 days on different aspects of illegal use, one day devoted to legal and recreational uses. Eventually we realized that legal gun use merited it's own separate series to run on a different week on WFYI.

One story will be about teens who hunt, the second about teens involved in gun safety training (Project Appleseed). We already have those interviewees. For the third, we are looking for a kid who can access guns for self defense.

In short, while Y Press' interest in this topic stemmed from the negative use of a gun, we are attempting to give equal weight to both sides.

Lastly I'd just like to add that although the main outlets for our work are the Indy Star for print and WFYI for radio, we are an independent non-profit devoted exclusively to kids 10-18. You can check out our past stories at www.ypress.org

Classic, your kid sounds like he or she would be a good interviewee. If you change your mind, please contact me at ypress@earthlink.net or (317) 444-2010.

Happy New Year,
Andrea

 

[yellowhousejake]

Not just a troll, a malicious troll. I'm betting this troll is a 27 year old idealistic liberal reporter wanna be.

Now excuse me while I take my 9 year old outside to shoot kittens.

I was the Shoot Boss at the Appleseed the YPress kids attended as reporters. All three of them were polite, courteous, followed all safety rules I laid on them, and asked open and unbiased questions of the youth instructor they interviewed and myself. I completed a phone interview prior to that day, and one as a followup. I never felt that the kids, or their adult escort Andrea, were in any way disingenuous towards our instructor, myself, or the Appleseed Program.

Painting all press with the same broad brush makes it very difficult to argue against them doing the same to those in the shooting sports.

I look forward to the report.

Yellowhousejake

 

[shibumiseeker]

I was the Shoot Boss at the Appleseed the YPress kids attended as reporters. All three of them were polite, courteous, followed all safety rules I laid on them, and asked open and unbiased questions of the youth instructor they interviewed and myself. I completed a phone interview prior to that day, and one as a followup. I never felt that the kids, or their adult escort Andrea, were in any way disingenuous towards our instructor, myself, or the Appleseed Program.

Painting all press with the same broad brush makes it very difficult to argue against them doing the same to those in the shooting sports.

I look forward to the report.

Yellowhousejake

Thanks for the vetting there Jake,unfortunately because the press has treated gun owners so badly this kind of testament is pretty much needed.

I hope that someone will step up and help, the piece done well can really help us and done wrong will just be another in a long line of them.

 

[24Carat]

I'll surely apologize for my caustic reaction Andrea. It's my own personal vetting procedure and you passed with flying colors!

 

[jblomenberg16]

Guys...I know the media has burned gun owners with the past, but I think we need to do our part to help that image a bit. Immediately jumping to conclusions is no better than those that have been overly critical, or even blatently wrong, about gun owners.

I think we need to give Andrea a chance here and a least treat her with some respect. If we expect to be respected, we have to be willing to show that on the front end as well.