A News Service for Young People By Rima Chaddha, Youth Wire Staff Reporter
Oxford, Mississippi - May 17, 2002 (Youth Wire) - There are many sources for news on the internet, ranging from The New York Times' web site to those of various smaller publications, but one thing many teens worldwide have found to be lacking is a site that provides adequate coverage of issues that interest their own age group. Youth Wire (www.youthwire.com), created by American entrepreneur and businessman Baruti M. Kamau, hopes to fill that void by allowing young people to write news and opinion stories targeted toward their peers. While both Kamau and his web site are based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Youth Wire is gradually gaining a broad international audience as stories from across the globe are reported almost every day. "I'm hoping that Youth Wire will emerge as a useful reference in documenting movement, trends and ideas among young people in different parts of the world," he said. "The news service must be flexible to the extent that even a news agency in China or Papua, New Guinea will republish our content because their readers are interested." Indeed teens from wide range of locales are using Youth Wire as one source to get their information from and, as the site grows, more can probably be expected to follow. "I think it's a novel idea to have an important and useful site just for teens," said Luke Black, 15, from Wales. "I like the thought of varied news stories like the ones ranging from the death of Lisa Lopes, the singer from TLC, to the World Trade Center disaster." Other issues covered include political topics such as the work done by youths in helping to reelect French President Jacques Chirac, as well as technology matters such as the creation of a new internet search engine by Florida youth, Dennis Williams II. Content, however, is not the only thing about Youth Wire that appeals to young people. "More than anything, I really like the design of the site," said Rachel Cook, 16, from Boston, Mass. "The links are obvious and you can find exactly what you are looking for in no more than a few clicks. A lot of sites directed toward young people use obnoxious colors and fonts that you can't even read. Youth Wire looks more professional and because of that, it might show teenagers that when they visit the site they will be treated like intelligent people." "Too many 'sites for teens' focus on small issues like music and movies, but they ignore real hardcore news stories," said Priyanka Sharma, 18, from New Delhi, India. "As a young adult, I don't want to be pandered to. I don't care as much about some pop star's love life as I do about, let us say, an earthquake in Japan that kills hundreds. The second hypothetical story is more important and therefore should be the lead story on any news site, especially one for young people because they are just beginning to learn what it is to live in a global society." Youth Wire is one news source that does focus on a vast array of issues--such as entertainment, politics, war, religious issues and anything else that many people, including teens, say they want to learn about--and seeks to provide youths with that information. Moreover, Youth Wire gives young journalists and writers both a spotlight in which to showcase their work, as well as a lesson in basic economics. "Youth Wire is looking forward to impinging upon the social process by employing or paying our young writers for their solicited articles," said Kamau. "When we are successful in generating significant advertising or sponsorship, we will initiate a program to pay our regular contributing writers a little something for each unsolicited article or news item published. That way our young writers can earn money from their contributions; while beginning their career as writers or journalists." As a publisher, stock market speculator, investor and entrepreneur, Kamau knows his stuff. After being born in poverty to a 14-year-old unwed mother, he saved his money, attended school at the University of Cincinnati and later studied Islamic and Arabic studies in Kano, Nigeria. Now the founder and owner of Barutiwa Newspaper and the Barutiwa Publishing Company (which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in November), head of the Barutiwa Communication Media Link Corporation, and developer of Speculators Play penny stock magazine, Kamau has both the experience and the know-how in economics and publication to create a news service such as Youth Wire and to make it a success. "I really think this could be a great project," Sharma said. "It will make money because of advertising and because of that, teenaged reporters can have the experience of being in a paying job if they are staff writers." "Having actual writing assignments will show future journalists the value of hard work and the fact that even though they are young, they can still hold real-world jobs instead of having paper routes or other work that won't really prepare them for life in the careers they want," Cook said. "I really like that." Teens and young adults interested in writing for Youth Wire can contact the organization at [EMAIL PROTECTED] after reading the submission policies on the publication's web site (http://www.youthwire.com/submissions.html). About Author Rima Chaddha is currently a sophomore at the University of Mississippi. She is majoring in both journalism and sociology, and may take on a minor in English. Rima can be reached by email at ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). 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