Rising Tides: Next Wave x Teen Gazette—Exploring the stories behind youth-led initiatives

Teen Gazette is a teen-run literary magazine dedicated to amplifying the voices of young people ages 13-19 through writing and art. Created to give teens a space where their creativity is seen, appreciated, and taken seriously, the magazine is entirely youth-led from reviewing submissions and editing pieces to designing layouts and managing social media. Both Next Wave and Teen Gazette share the same mission to celebrate creativity, foster connection, and build a global community of young creators, so partnering together to amplify teen voices felt like the perfect opportunity.

Q: “What inspired you to start Teen Gazette, and what does its mission mean to you (or your team) personally?”

A: “To be honest, there’s hundreds, if not thousands of organizations doing exactly what Teen Gazette is doing. But each organization that’s created for the purpose of expanding teen voices to a global audience is what continues to motivate teens to explore themselves, put themselves out there, and realize that’s hundreds of people who are interested and care about their work. This is what inspired Teen Gazette. There’s never a niche too saturated to make a change, and that’s something I quickly realized at the rate Teen Gazette grew at when we announced and released our first issue.” Q: “Looking back from where this literary magazine started, where do you want it to go and what does the future look like for Teen Gazette?”

A: “As I get ready to enter my senior year of high school, I plan to continue to release issues and expand Teen Gazette to schools, libraries, and other teen-led organizations. I’m very grateful for what I’ve been able to do with Teen Gazette in under a year, and the amazing team I have that even makes these issues possible.”  Q: “If you could change one thing about how young artists, writers, and creators are viewed or supported today, what would it be?”

A: “A lot of young creators don’t necessarily realize that spaces like these exist to get their work out there. Many of them may be scared to submit their work, or might be self-conscious of their creations. I want them to know that they miss 100% of the opportunities that they don’t take. You never know what can come about if you don’t sell yourself. Whether that isn’t through Teen Gazette, please make the effort step out of your comfort zone and try new things.” Q: “What advice would you give to a young creator who has an idea, project, or piece of work they're afraid to share with the world?”

A: “Just share it. In our second issue, I remember reading a piece where a contributor told us that they were scared to submit their work and they didn’t think it would go anywhere. We ended up publishing their piece. You never know how people will take your work if you don’t make the effort to share your talent and creativity with the world.” Q: “When people look back on Teen Gazette years from now, what do you hope they remember it for?”

A: “I hope people remember Teen Gazette as a collective effort by a group of teens to expand teen voices to a global audience. As we continue to make physical magazines, I hope people are able to share it around and motivate other teens to start something similar or feel motivated to put themselves out there.”

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Teen Gazette is a reminder of what can happen when young people create opportunities for one another. Through its commitment to uplifting teen voices, fostering creativity, and building a supportive community, the magazine continues to inspire students to share their work with confidence. We are grateful for Teen Gazette for taking the time to share their story and encourage you to support their mission by following their journey!

Stay Connected: Visit Their Website and Check Out Their Socials Below!

Tiktok: @teengazette

Instagram: @teen.gazette 

Website: https://teengazette.org