„Across the Ocean“
The transatlantic radio and online platform for kids by kids in Germany, Europe and North America About „Across the Ocean“:
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cross the Ocean was initiated by Radijojo‘s World Children‘s Radio Network, the first international children‘s radio with its headquarters in Berlin. Radijojo is an non-profit organisation which produces new media content for children around the world. Radijojo has received numerous awards from the EU Commission, UNICEF ICBD as well as the Federal Government of Germany. The transatlantic radio project „Across the Ocean“, was launched on the auspicious occasion of the official opening of the new US Embassy grounds at the Brandenburg Gate in 2008. „Across the Ocean‘s“ mission is to bring German and American youth together in a platform for sustainable cross-cultural understanding and cooperation. This idea has been enthousiastically embraced by internationally renowned figures and organisations, among them Jeremy Rifkin, Frank Walter Steinmeier, the former German Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thomas Krüger, Chairman of the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung and President of the Deutsche Kinderhilfswerk, Dr. Beate Lindemann of the Atlantik Brücke, the German Consulate in New York, as well as Ms. Ursula Ruedenberg the Progamm Director of the PACIFICA Radio Network.
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ince its start in 2008, „Across the Ocean“ has effectively become an innovative non-for-profit media initiative for cultural and educational encounters for children and youth. It pursues educational objectives in the spirit of civic exchange, as well as providing quality and wholesome media for younger audiences. Our initiative comprises a combination of bi-lingual radio content, on-line platform and media tool, (i.e. podcasts between German and US schools, photography, artwork, animated film, videos etc).
The „Across the Ocean“ initiative was made possible with funding from the German Marshall Fund (i.e. The European Recovery Program 2009). We produce and syndicate as a non-commercial radio station, content and complete broadcasts free of charge to our American partners such as the Pacifica Radio Network and the PRX Network (Public Radio Exchange) for re-broadcasting purposes.
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cross the Ocean has in 2009, brought hundreds of German and American children and youth together on diverse ocassions. Many of the aforementioned children and young people originate from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and are thus enabled through these first experiences in new media and information technologies to a greater self-assurance while creating their own content through Skype exchanges, podcasts, animated film productions and the like, with their peers across the Atlantic. We are commited to providing a wide-spectrum of themes which are of interest to kids on both continents such as; music, literature, sport, daily life, and school issues. Our focus is concentrated on virtually all aspects transatlantic exchange, be it our common history, political issues, environmental aims, children‘s rights, civic participation and good governance projects. Our work is created for kids by kids and is therefore especially authentic and target-group compatible. The nature of our work enables schools, communities, public and community radios, youth initiatives even families as such, to contribute with their own content to the transatlantic exchange at a grass root level which makes us particularly sustainable.
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cross the Ocean works as an initiative in conjunction with prestigious partners on both sides of the Atlantic. These being, amongst others, Pacifica, PRX, Generation PRX ( the social network for children in public radio in the US), the Goethe Institute, UNICEF, AMARC, the German Federation of Public Radios, The German Federation of Open Channels, Radio Enfant Canada, Listenup!, LEARN, Open Channels for Europe, FEZ Berlin Youth Centre and dozens of schools in Germany and America. The transatlantic editorial team is based in the the „House of Youth“ in the Berliner Wedding district which was built with funds provided by the German Marshall Fund more than 50 years ago.
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Our work in 2009: the „Across the Ocean“ website and more A short summary of our productions in 2009 on the „Across the Ocean“ website:
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e have successfully launched the first radio exchange projects with childen in Canada: during the summer holidays, we managed to organise three wonderful transatlantic radio shows including phoneins of Berliner children which were aired live on the Kootenay Coop Radio, in British Columbia. We made numerous new acquaintances and partnerships with schools, community radios, youth media initiatives throughout Germany and in North America which contributed to our program and will provide for the basis for future cooperations. Among them are the Innuit Youth of Alaska Teen Media and Hopi FM in Arizona.
We cooperated with the „Parlamentarisches Patenschafts-Programm“ (PPP) of the German Bundestag and the US Congress to employ the fantastic young radio host of the Boston College Radio, Mr. Chance Dorland as our intern.
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e worked with some of the youngest talents in radio: Lilly from Berlin (not even two years old) and Lili from Chicago (three years old) shared and exchanged medleys of their favorite songs with us.
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he students found out that not only the people but even the American and European wilderness have a lot in common: the wolves, the buffaloes, the beavers – and horses were brought over by Europeans to America. Radijojo co-founder, Jonathan (13 years old) found out why Canadian geese thrive on the island of Hiddensee in Germany: even this phenomenon is linked with globalization...
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tudents from the town of Kronberg in Germany conducted research on Native American Nations. A highlight of the segment that ensued was a self-written song called „Little Indian boy“. This song was produced by us and bequeathed to Hopi FM, a community radio in Arizona.
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oung „Across the Ocean“ reporters did research on the history of the United States and Germany: in New York, they visited the traditional Steuben parade. In Berlin, they found out that the name „America“ was given to the new continent by the German cartograph Waldseemüller some 500 years ago – a fascinating and little known fact for schools and young radio audiences.
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All of the aforementioned projects can be found on our www.across-the-ocean.org website. A selection of our 30:00 minutes radio productions can be found on the Public Radio Exchange, PRX sites. Here a selection of three audio examples we would like to submit to illustrate our work to the jury:
A selection of the transatlantic highlights 2009
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In the School and more category on our web site: „Beacon College meets the Gutzmann School“ This is an audio file on an educational exchange between the Beacon College and the Gutzman School: both schools are attended by children and young adults with learning disabilities. In this segment, we can hear how the older peers in Florida have learned to master their disabilities and taken on the challenges of receiving a higher education and what it means to them. The older peers offer moral support and encouragement to their younger Berliner counterparts concerning the educational challenges they may face. This piece is an excellent example how Radijojo‘s content on the “Across the Ocean” website serves to bridge communities on both sides of the Atlantic as a vital resource of exchange and which could make all the difference in the lives of young people.
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Under the category Nature: „A Day in the Life, the First Green Transatlantic Show“ Here, children from the Chicago region and Berlin contributed their ideas on how to fight climate change, reduce garbage and use green technologies. This show was part of a project in cooperation with Public Radio New Hampshire. These pieces reflect our work on climate awareness with young audiences.
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As listed under the category of Let‘s meet! on the „Across the Ocean“ website: „Florida meets Berlin: Kennedy, Hanna & Sabrina“ Kennedy was our high school intern from Boca Raton, FL. She is a selfassured and engaging girl and was quite an interesting interview partner for the young reporters Hanna and Sabrina with whom she shared her views on her experiences in Berlin in contrast to her life in her hometown in South Florida. The feature is exemplary of the crosscultural encounters which are a standard on the „Across the Ocean“ website. It is an effective venue for listeners to gain insight in the lives of young Americans.
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Furthermore, a video feature on the submitted DVD, was created by young students from Richton Park near Chicago. This is yet another example of the digital media approach of our initiative, where the students act up and show their commitment in fighting climate change.
Perspectives
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fter only two years of existence, „Across the Ocean“ has become a valuable tool in connecting the younger generation of media-savvy Germans and Americans. We have a waiting list of inquiries for transatlantic children‘s projects which indicates the large demand for our initiative in media. Therefore, we welcome every possible form of support and new partnerships to involve as many children, schools, families and non-profit radios in our transatlantic initiatives as possible.
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Feedback and recommendations
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rank Walter Steinmeier, former German Minister for Foreign Affairs: „Because, we know that the children of today will become the adults of tomorrow....“ Jeremy Rifkin, expert for European-American Relations: „It is a great idea! Let the kids communicate, share and learn from each other! That helps create a more humane and empathetic world. Keep me informed about your development!“ Johnny Good, principal, Beacon College, Florida: „We are excited about doing the interviews. The Beacon College Board of Trustees were here last week and the Chairman of the Board said they were outstanding and extremely well done.“ Ursula Ruedenberg, Programme Director US Radio Network PACIFICA: „Thank you so much for collaborating with us. As always, it‘s a pleasure to work with you.“
Carol Gockman, Learning Technology Specialist, Illinois School: „At our end, we couldn‘t be happier with the results. Our students greatly enjoyed the interaction and we hope to continue the collaboration. Thank you for all of your hard work putting together this wonderful learning experience! You have developed an educational goldmine!“ Tony Vincent, renowned US media education expert (www.Learninginhand.com) „Wow! The episode is terrific! I‘m listening to it now and the kids sound great.“
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The following article is from the Atlantic Times from April 2009 issue.
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he first transatlantic children’s radio has been called an educational goldmine. It was founded by Thomas Röhlinger in Berlin. And it is expanding by the day. The room is abuzz with the subdued chattering of children. Ten excited 10-year olds are gathered on the premises of radio station Jojo, one floor above a bustling Berlin Kindergarten. About to perform a rap-song they have rehearsed in class for weeks, the girls and boys are still a little shy as they wiggle on their chairs waiting for their turn. The room is crowded and packed with various items: Microphones, loudspeakers, coffee pots, piles of paper, a guitar in the corner and a simple wooden, soundproof cabin for recording. This is a very special day for Amneh, Silvio, Mehdi, Tatjana, Emin, Onur, Serhat, Dennis, Jeremy and Fabio. Their names reflect the population of Berlin’s Wedding district, one of the poorest and most multicultural communities in Germany, mostly associated with drugs, crime and troubled families.
Few parents if any in this area have the capacity to widen the horizon of their offspring beyond providing for their daily needs. What they are up to these days is sending their pro-environmental “Garbage Can Rap” across the Atlantic and to the entire world, to children like the fans of Lil Peppi in Tampa, Florida, a professional 10-year-old African-American rapper.
The Atlantic Times Sending Sound Waves Across an Ocean The World Children’s Radio Network is a powerful tool to teach, reach out and learn – By Caroline
Fetscher
Before their performance, radio editor in chief Thomas Röhlinger lets the children listen to Lil Peppi’s song about Mother Nature. “If I were the king of the world, I would make it a better place for the boys and girls,” he raps along. “I would clean up, all of the pollution – if we work together, we can find the solution.” On the colorful website www.across-the-ocean.org, the children in Berlin listen and watch Lil Peppi sing.
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nly an hour later, their own pictures and messages to other kids out there will show up on the screen: “Hi everybody in Europe and in America! We are students attending the Albert Gutzmann School! We hope you will enjoy the rap song we made for you!” Some kids seem puzzled by the miraculous connections made possible here. Röhlinger, father of four in a lively patchwork family, initiated Radijojo World Children’s Radio Network in 2005 as an international non-profit project to produce educative and entertaining radio and online content for children by children on five continents. Since then, the network has been steadily growing. “It is amazing how many messages we receive, how much interest the radio generates,” Röhlinger says. Unlike his former peers, Röhlinger, born in 1969 in East Berlin, grew up with American pop music. He loves to remember the concert Bob Dylan gave in East Berlin in 1986. While people lined the streets cheering to the star from the free world, young Thomas held up his handwritten poster reading “Dylan for president!” After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Röhlinger went on to study sociology in Berlin and at New York University. His own children attend a bilingual state school with English and German spoken in class. When Barack Obama was inaugurated, seven-year-old Mina Röhlinger commented on air that she liked this turn of events because now there is a president “who is not a white one.”
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Radijojo as part of the World Children Radio Network, “is a powerful tool to connect children, to teach, reach out and learn,” says Röhlinger. Issues on air range from sports, the environment and music to politics, history, literature and children’s rights for an upbringing free of violence. A patron of World Children’s Radio is Daniel Barenboim, musical director and head conductor of the Staatsoper (the German State Opera) in Berlin as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – and a musical activist for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Funding for the radio station, which is free of advertising, comes from the German Transatlantic Program via the European Recovery Program of Germany’s Federal Department of Economics and Technology. Sixty dedicated co-workers, many with immigrant backgrounds, help run the radio station in several parts of town. The headquarters in Wedding are located at a community center built with money from the Marshall Fund, Röhlinger is glad to point out, because “it all fits”.
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mong the many modules of the programs, “Across the Ocean”, the first transatlantic children’s radio bridge, is Röhlinger’s pet project. “We invite schools, community radios and youth-oriented media across the United States to participate,” said Röhlinger. And they do. Recently, for instance, Radijojo has included a program by young Native American poets from Santa Fe to their audio on demand section. An American intern, Chance Dorland, 22, experienced with College Radio in Boston has joined the crew for a year via the Parliamentarian Exchange Program between the U.S. Congress and the Bundestag. “Dear Thomas, you have designed an educational goldmine,” wrote Carol Gockman, learning technology specialist from an Illinois school. And Carrie Matherly, youth spin coordinator at the Griffin School in Austin, Texas wrote: “We are super pleased and excited that you’d like to share what we’ve produced with international listeners.” She promised to include Berlin’s work on the Austin airwaves. Amneh, Silvio, Mehdi, Tatjana, Emin, Onur, Serhat, Dennis, Jeremy and Fabio from Berlin Wedding marvel at how far their voices can travel.
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n 2008, the radio station was awarded the title “Land of Ideas” by President Horst Köhler. Proudly, the document is displayed on the wall of the editing room where half a dozen editors are busy writing, translating and answering emails from around the world. American economist Jeremy Rifkin wrote to Radijojo: “A great idea! Let the kids communicate, share and learn from each other! That helps create a more humane and empathetic world.”
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Haus der Jugend Berlin-Mitte Reinickendorfer Str. 55 13347 Berlin, Germany transatlantic@radijojo.de troehlinger@radijojo.de 0049-30-2790-7147 0049-170-4820324 www.across-the-ocean.org www.world-childrens-radio.net www.global-radio-kids.org www.radijojo.de www.euchira.eu
Acknowledgements
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e would like to thank our wonderful and culturally very diverse staff of web designers, sound editors, copy writers, translators, and office staff for all of their marvelous work in making the transatlantic exchange possible.
Author: Thomas Röhlinger & Diani Barreto Translator: Diani Barreto Design: Holger Könneker
„Across the Ocean“ - the transatlantic radio and online platform