Youth Media

2012 Casey Medals

Winner: "Coming of Age in 2011," WNYC Radio Rookies
By Beatrice Aquino, Tim Brown-Martinez, Brianna Fugate, Michael Jacobson, Alicia Martinez, Jimmy Musa, Kaari Pitkin, Sanda Htyte, Marianne McCune, Courtney Stein, Veralyn Williams and Mike Jones
"Coming of Age in 2011" is a compelling look at youth identity, weaving personal narrative with outside perspectives on issues as diverse -- and real -- as a family’s immigration status, a teen’s mental health diagnoses, a journey through the foster care system and the process of coming out as LGBT. Radio Rookies reports aren’t sugar-coated tales of triumph over adversity, but illuminating self-portraits of how bright kids get stuck in situations that aren’t working for them or their futures. Judges remarked, “It's a rare treat to listen to a first-person narrative that moves you; it's even rarer to find storytellers who are brave enough to confront their own issues and face other people who may not always tell them what they want to hear.”
Runner-Up: "Domestic Silence: Revisited," The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
By: Alex Stuckey
Ohio promised to make a serious effort to reduce domestic violence, but as the enterprising young reporter found, the state failed to make good on its promises. This series was an in-depth exploration of how and why partner abuse is so often overlooked and underreported. The judges praised reporter Alex Stuckey for her use of data, her compelling narratives, and her persistence in tracking down lawyers and judges and county commissioners. They wrote, “Stuckey wrote fairly and with just the right amount of outrage.”
Honorable Mention: "My Headscarf Cover-Up," New Youth Connections
By: Anonymous and Luisa Tucker (ed.)
An anonymous young reporter’s battle with her father about wearing a traditional headscarf is symbolic of the larger, and deeply personal, issue of identity for a Muslim-American young woman.

about this award

The Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism recognize exemplary reporting on children and families in the U.S. More than 4,500 journalists have competed for Casey Medals since 1994.