This is part of our Youth Media Creation Series, in which partners in this field share their experiences running programs in which young people's voices inform public conversations.

We recently convened young people, media leaders, and scholars for a conversation about how youth making media can strengthen democracy.

This is part of our Youth Expertise Series, in which young people use their experiences to write about how we can improve youth civic engagement and civic life.

Social and local media have played a key role, and there are challenges and great opportunities for media to connect diverse youth to information about engagement.

Our Director Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg has been a key consultant on the popular educational animated show as it incorporated civic lessons and themes.

By: Elizabeth A. Bennion, Professor of Political Science at Indiana University South Bend and Host of WNIT’s Politically Speaking

During election cycles, local media can play a crucial role informing young people and advancing their development as participants in democracy.