Audio Documentaries 2022

An audio visit to the Bronx to hear from people who look out for their neighborhood's street trees. 

Credits:
Austin Cope--Reporting, Narration, Production
Veralyn Williams-- Editing, Project Management
Amanda Aronczyk -- Scripting advice
Amber Watson-- Studio engineering

Seeing NYC's Trees for the Forest

Welcome to Brooklyn Skates - one of New York City’s last indoor roller rinks. 

Edited and produced by Hannah Bottum. Music courtesy of Jason Shaw, Audionautix, at audionautix.com.

Roll On: Keeping the Spirit of Skating Alive in Brooklyn

For years, the NYPD has surveilled and infiltrated Muslim communities as part of their counterterrorism measures. How has the NYPD’s surveillance program impacted the Muslim communities and people it targeted?

Edited and produced by Reem Farhat. Music via Jason Shaw at Audionautix, audionautix.com. Cover art by Summer Hdaib.

Overcoming Surveillance

Max is a 4-year-old with double vision. Her parents are navigating treatment through the complications of Covid.

This piece was produced and edited by H Conley with help from Veralyn Williams and Amanda Aronczyk. Music is from Sugartree by Blue Dot Sessions.

Seeing Double

Sara Rukeyser is a 25-year-old New Yorker who wears hearing aids. She talks about the impact of the pandemic and masking on her ability to communicate.

Unmasking Our Hearing Loss

CW: mention of death

What does opening streets in New York City mean for one Queens neighborhood, and for one Queens resident?

Music provided by:

Ethereal Relaxation by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/8719-ethereal-relaxation
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

and

https://freesound.org/people/ispeakwaves/sounds/384947/
The Plan - Upbeat Loop by ispeakwaves
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Open these Streets

A Bushwick resident has made it his mission to keep a community “free store” afloat - even as volunteer-ship wanes and he navigates space issues.

This piece was produced by Michayla Savitt. Kalli Anderson is managing editor. Special thanks to Shai Ben-Dor, H Conley, Sarah Luft, and Amanda Aronczyk. A big thank you to the good people of the Bushwick Free Store for their time. Music is Partly Sage, Are We Loose Yet, and Mind Body Mind by Blue Dot Sessions. Photo provided by Bushwick Free Store.

The Bushwick Santa

Etsy has become a hub for fan-made merchandise for musicians like Harry Styles and Lizzo. But copyright issues cause trouble for creators and musicians alike.

Produced by Tatiana Krisztina. Kalli Anderson is managing editor. Special thanks to Emily Hering and Jules Reist for being so amazing and open; and my entire audio doc class for the support and positivity.

Celebrities, Crocs, and Copyright

Street performers in NYC are adapting as subway safety becomes a third rail, pandemic concerns continue and algorithms fight for our attention.
Content Warning: Strong language, descriptions of violence/trauma

Busk A Move: Inside the world of NYC's buskers

Veganism in the Black community is increasing in America as many of them are becoming more health-conscious due to books, documentaries, and influencers who talk about combating chronic diseases through diet. Kiya Huffman, YouTuber and the owner of Empa[NAH]das discussed her veganism journey.

Content Warning: Strong language

A Steady Diet of Change

Viajar sin Viajar (Travel without travel)

A hostel in the mountain town of Jardín, Colombia brings together an unlikely cast of characters. 

Producer: Tasha Sandoval 
Editor: Tasha Sandoval
Music: “Haribol” by Gokula

Viajar sin Viajar (Travel without travel)

Home prices are hitting record highs and inventory sits at historic lows. But what does it take to buy in New York in the post pandemic market?

Story produced, narrated and edited by Pete Tomao

What does it take to buy a house in New York?

Rachael Robertson’s grandpa died from COVID in December of 2020 and a year and a half later his ashes are still on a shelf.

Produced and written by Rachael Robertson

SHELVED trailer

Can the constant usage of facemasks encourage us to breath through our mouth instead of our nose? A complicated answer gives insight into the importance of good  breathing for our wellbeing.

Nose, mouth, and facemasks

Can you learn to love the pigeon? Why would you want to? What might happen if you succeed?

Content Warning: brief use of strong language, discussion of dead and injured birds

Audio documentary written, reported, and produced by Zoe Grueskin.
Song credit: "Phases (Instrumental)" by HoliznaRAPS

The Pigeon Paradox

The businesses of Coney Island took a significant hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, but this 2022 season looks hopeful with the boardwalk’s first full reopening.

Producer and Editor: Amanda Harrington 

Archival Audio: Movie Guy via YouTube - “1940's & 1950's Coney Island NY”

Coney Island's Reopening

As a lesbian couple, making a baby isn’t easy. But Molly and Kayla never imagined the challenges they would face just to get started.

Produced by Yvonne Marquez
Photo by Debmalya Roy Choudhuri 
Music and sound credits: 
Too Cool by Kevin MacLeod
DX7 SynthWave Chords by ValentinSosnitskiy
atmospheric synth line.wav by Jackie-makes-noiz
Oceanwaves.wav by Noted451
Ambient Piano Sample by EX-AN
Ambient Delayed Bells by EX-AN
Synth Lead by EX-AN
Synth.wav by CyberMad
Glitchy tones by dotY21
2018-08-10 by Doctor_Dreamchip

The Winding Path to Queer Pregnancy

Nostalgia a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period. I have been fascinated by the topic for most of my life, and I believe that it came about from listening to the stories the adults told in my life. In this piece, I break down why I became fascinated with the topic of nostalgia and memory, and why I am afraid that I will lose this when I get older. Nostalgia is an emotional state that when the pressures of the world in the present begin to get to us, it can take us back to a point in our pasts to comfort us. Join me, Max Maldonado, as I decode my interest in the topic and how exactly nostalgia benefits our health.

Max.Maldonado.Nastos_

It’s been 50 years since the Bronx burned, leaving hundreds traumatized and displaced throughout the city. The Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater presents TORCHED!, a production that hopes to pay homage to the individuals who tried to bring justice to the Bronx following the 1970s fires. 

Directed by Rosalba Rolón the production revisits an untold history of the fires, one that took Rolón 5 years to research and write. Ensemble actors Christin Cato, José Joquín García, Claudia Ramos-Jordán, Pat D. Robinson, and Nyseli Vega discuss the impact of the play, and what they hope the play will mean to future generations.

Pregones/PRTT revisits 1970s Bronx fires in new production, TORCHED!_TRAILER

Content warning: sexual situations

Teens and adults alike often struggle to self-manage a chronic disease like Type 1 Diabetes. The physical toll can be daunting and it’s not uncommon to spend days in the hospital. Everyday can feel like you’re just making it by. Ileana Estevez, who was diagnosed at 14 and is now 29, shares how T1D has touches every other part of her life too – from her social life, to work, sex and her relationship with family and friends.  Plus, she shares some lessons she’s learned along the way.

Living with T1D

This account showcases work produced by students in the Audio Journalism Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY).

Audio Documentaries 2022

Newmark J-School Audio Journalism