Prism x Indiegraf: Reflective Journalism Project
Open application through 11:59pm ET, October 14th, 2024.
Prism and Indiegraf have partnered to offer journalism training and community media best practices to a cohort of 30 organizers interested in community news entrepreneurship.
Democratizing storytelling. Demystifying media.
Disrupting old narratives by amplifying new voices.
Are you a community leader, frontline social justice organizer, or aspiring writer who wants to use storytelling to serve your community? Do you want to push back against mainstream media’s misrepresentation and erasure of marginalized voices? Are you curious about how you could use movement journalism methods or community media platforms to expand your impact?
Prism Reports and Indiegraf have partnered once more to offer journalism training and community media best practices to activists and organizers interested in movement journalism and community news entrepreneurship. The program will take place between October 30 and November 13 in three weekly online workshops, where participants will learn the nuts and bolts of the editorial process and gain strategies to build their news platform.
Our goal is to share the editorial and entrepreneurial strategies you need to build your own outlet for justice, whether that’s a story pitch, a project, a news platform, or a media organization.
Following the program, participants will also be invited to apply to Indiegraf’s News Startup Fund to prototype their community media project or to pitch and collaborate on stories for publication at Prism.
To learn more about program details, pricing, and the application process, jump ahead to the sections below—and don’t forget to read the FAQs!
Program Details
From October 30 to November 13, Prism and Indiegraf will be hosting the Reflective Journalism Project: From Pitch to Publication. In three live 90-minute online workshops, participants will learn the editorial and entrepreneurial strategies they need to build their own stories, projects, or outlets in service of justice. Applications open on September 23rd, which is ideal for anyone who wants to learn how to use storytelling to uplift their work, connect with wider audiences, and create a space for marginalized voices.
We especially encourage community organizers and writers who are underrepresented in mainstream media or living on the frontlines of injustice to apply.
We are excited to provide an informative and interactive learning experience for our participants through this program. Each session will include two parts:
- Live training sessions (1 hour each), which will be open for publishers in the Indiegraf network. These sessions will be recorded and available for a wider audience later on.
- Workshop sessions (30 minutes) with Prism and Indiegraf facilitators, which will be exclusive for cohort participants. These workshops will allow participants the opportunity to share, discuss, and develop any stories or media projects they are pursuing or hope to pursue.
The breakdown of each session is as follows:
Session 1: Introduction to movement journalism (Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, 12:00-1:30 PT/3:00-4:30 ET)
- Live training sessions: (1 hour)
- An introduction to movement journalism, the editorial process, and the strategies you need to turn journalism into a tool for collective liberation
- Workshop: Discussion (30 minutes)
Session 2: Audience development as coalition building (Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 12:00-1:30 PT/3:00-4:30 ET)
- Live training: (1 hour)
- A dive into audience development and community-building: how and where do you find your audience? How do you reach them, build community with them, and earn their trust, support, and engagement?
- Workshop: Discussion (30 minutes)
Session 3: How to build strong community news products (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, 12:00-1:30 PT/3:00-4:30 ET)
- Live training: (1 hour)
- A how-to for building strong community news products, from product development to sustainability to creating viable news businesses
- Workshop: Q&A with independent publishers from the Indiegraf network (30 minutes)
What to expect from this program
- An understanding of the basics of movement journalism and how equity-seeking journalists are redefining the industry in pursuit of collective liberation
- Resources for how to experiment with starting your own local news source to fill news gaps in your community and make an impact
- Mentorship opportunities and support from Prism journalists and Indiegraf journalist-entrepreneurs
- Networking with a cohort of like-minded writers, activists, content creators, and community leaders
- Opportunities after the program to move your project forward, including applying to Indiegraf’s News Startup Fund for funding to prototype your media organization and/or pitching and collaborating on story ideas for publication with Prism
- Lifetime access to session recordings and workshop materials to revisit after live trainings
- A certificate of completion, granted by Prism and Indiegraf
Why are we doing this?
One fifth of people in the United States live in “news deserts”: places without access to news that accurately reflects their communities. People without this kind of journalism are less likely to vote, run for office, volunteer, or even trust their neighbors. They are also more vulnerable to misinformation, polarization, and even infectious diseases. Mainstream news coverage can also perpetuate toxic, harmful narratives and exclude communities who are historically oppressed—further exacerbating injustice.
Movement journalism aims to combat and challenge the injustices upheld by mainstream media, working instead to build an accurate record of the organizing, resistance efforts, and communities fighting oppression. Movement journalism prioritizes journalism created by marginalized people and is the crucial lifeblood to sustaining movements for collective liberation—it is rigorous, principled, and committed, and we believe proper training and strategy-building is necessary to create an accurate shared narrative.
Our stories and narratives should reflect all of us who have the shared goal of collective liberation. As truth tellers, justice seekers, and community activists, we know digital storytelling can be a powerful tool for revealing underreported angles, building collective power, and inspiring lasting change. This program is our invitation for more folks to join this movement.
Frequently asked questions
1. When will this program take place?
The program will take place in three sessions over three weeks in October and November on Zoom (October 30, November 6, and November 13).
2. What is the deadline to apply?
Applications open September 23, 2024 and close October 14, 2024. Keep in mind we only have 30 seats available and that each application is reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. How much does this program cost?
This program is partially sponsored by the generous support of Indiegraf, which means we can offer reduced sliding scale pricing for participants. We will also be extending 2 needs-based scholarship seats. Please read the Pricing section for more information about payment plans and the scholarship application.
4. How do I pay for this program?
After we’ve reviewed your application, if you are accepted into the cohort, we will send you an email with further details and instructions on how to pay for and attend the program.
5. What should participants prepare before attending the program?
Our goal is to share editorial and news entrepreneurial skills with the organizers, community leaders, and writers interested in using those skills to develop their own stories and projects. As such, we encourage participants to have these stories/projects in mind while attending the program so we can answer questions and brainstorm strategies together.
6. Will session recordings be available for asynchronous viewing?
Yes! Cohort participants will be given access to session recordings after the program ends.
7. When will I receive my certificate of completion?
Certificates will be emailed to participants no more than two weeks after the program ends on November 13.
Want to learn more before applying?
Contact Joe Lanane from Indiegraf (joe@indiegraf.com) or Rikki Li from Prism (rikki@prismreports.org) if you have any questions or want to learn more!
Ready to apply? Fill out the form below or click the link to apply by 11:59ET October 14, 2024.
Testimonials
“Through Prism’s Reflective Journalism Project, our Rural Women’s Collective fellows have been able to learn the nuts and bolts related to the entire editorial process—including how to take their personal stories and ideas and turn them into a compelling pitch and powerful article, build positive working relationships with editors, and promote their pieces effectively. We are excited to be building a deep bench of rural women storytellers with a unique and honest perspective that is missing from the national dialogue.”
Norma Flores López, Justice for Migrant Women
From our partner at Indiegraf
“Indiegraf has truly been such an instrumental partner in our organization’s growth and journey. I have been beyond impressed with the support they have provided The Defender in every aspect.”
– Ryan, The Kansas City Defender
“My experiences with Indiegraf have been overwhelmingly positive. Other media startups in the Indiegraf network are doing some of the best equity work I’ve seen in the industry and I’m grateful to be a part of the community.”
– Annelise Pierce, Shasta Scout
Read past Reflective Journalism Project’s participants journalism here!