Uth TV  is an outlet for the next generation of storytellers. Young people have always had something to say, they just haven't been able to get their voices heard, especially through the mainstream media. There are plenty of teen-oriented television programs out there, but they're produced by adults, and as a result, young people rarely get to see their culture or their perspectives represented in an authentic way. They're farther down the media food chain - consuming content not producing it.

Uth TV wants to invert this food chain and empower teens to become media producers. With digital video cameras and editing software so accessible, talented young filmmakers can now be found in every corner of the country. But instead of having only a handful of people see their work at a school assembly, youth film festival, or in their families' living room, Uth TV can air the piece on a UPN station and reach hundreds of thousands of teenage viewers. Not to mention all of the folks who'll see it on the website.

Although the first two programs this summer are focused on Bay Area youth, we invite young people from all over the country (and internationally as well) to weigh in on the subjects that matter to them. Youth have always had a voice. Now, with Uth TV, there's a place to hear them.

Dave Yanofsky