YR Media x The Washington Post
Project Overview:
The "Teens in America" podcast series, a collaboration between YR Media and The Washington Post, explored race and identity through the voices of young BIPOC journalists. To further engage audiences, an interactive website and a suite of web and social media assets were conceptualized and designed under the leadership of Pedro Vega Jr., co-founder of Wasena Creative, during his tenure as Creative Director at YR Media. The goal was to create a dynamic digital experience that showcased the podcast episodes while bringing the faces and stories of the journalists to the forefront.
Our Approach:
In addition to producing the podcast, YR Media aimed to create a digital experience that would amplify the stories shared by the young reporters. This involved a comprehensive web and social media strategy, led by Creative Director Pedro Vega Jr., Visual Designer Marjerrie Masicat, and Developer Radamés Ajna, along with a team of young reporters and interactive designers. Key elements of the process included:
Sketching & Wireframing: The team engaged in rounds of sketching and wireframing to visualize how users would interact with the podcast and the journalists' profiles. The focus was on creating an interface that seamlessly merged visual storytelling with the podcast content, ensuring an intuitive user experience.
Design & Iteration: Through multiple design iterations, the team refined an editorial-style layout that was both visually engaging and highly functional. The goal was to create a user-friendly and accessible website, allowing audiences to explore the podcast episodes and the backgrounds of the young reporters in depth.
Interactive Features: The website featured interactive components that allowed users to listen to the podcast while diving deeper into the stories behind the reporters. This included personalized profiles and original photography, creating a visually immersive experience.
Social Media Assets: To extend the reach of the project, the team also created a suite of custom social media assets, designed to promote the podcast series across various platforms. These assets included graphics, episode highlights, and teaser content tailored for platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, driving further engagement and interaction with the audience.
Accolades:
The "Teens in America" project earned widespread recognition:
Gracies Award Win: The podcast series won a Gracies Award for its powerful exploration of race and identity, showcasing the impact of youth voices in shaping national conversations.
Massive Audience Reach: The podcast, alongside the interactive website and social media campaign, reached millions of listeners and site visitors, sparking national discussions on race, youth activism, and identity.
Reunion of Talent: The project marked a reunion with YR Media alum Sabby Robinson, now part of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Post Reports audio team at The Washington Post, adding further significance to the collaboration.
Results:
The interactive website, coupled with a strategic social media campaign, became a central hub for the "Teens in America" project, driving substantial traffic and engagement. The visually compelling and highly functional platform deepened audience connection to the stories and the journalists, making a lasting impact on how the series was received. The collaborative efforts of YR Media’s young journalists, designers, and the interactive team resulted in a successful, award-winning project that resonated with a wide audience.
