By: MMM Editorial Team
It's time for a radical transformation of the American media landscape. Simply put, it’s not working for anyone except those in power and so many communities are tired of seeing their lives and issues depicted in racist and unfair stories.
That's the future Media 2070 is fighting for. A project through Free Press, Media 2070 is committed to the repair of our communities through the evolution of how we tell stories and how news operates.
The team is behind many major projects including Black in the Newsroom, Black Future Newsstand, Reparative Journalism Curriculum for higher education institutions and so much more. On Wednesday, Oct 30, Media 2070 leaders held an hour-long livestream to update supporters on latest projects and what's next:
"Media reparations is an invitation to dream up reparations [for the media system]," said Diamond Hardiman, Reparative Journalism Program Manager. "And we're figuring out the answers with each other. One of my favorite thing[s] about working with [University of Southern California] and the students is that we are tinkering and experimenting together. We're asking ourselves 'OK so what does this future look like? What does a more healthy and whole reparative journalism look?' The Charlotta Bass Journalism and Justice Lab does just that in re-examining past stories and thinking about what a future looks like with them more grounded and more centered in care."
In addition to Hardiman, Anshantia Oso, Senior Director, introduced the concept of reparations and discussed the ongoing work creating a framework; Venneikia Williams, Campaign Manager, spoke about the consortium and membership, and Joseph Torres, Senior Advisor, Reparative Policy and Programs discussed his work on the history of broadcast licensing and the FCC. Collette Watson, Founder of Black River Life and former Senior Director of Media 2070, also joined the livestream to discuss directing Black in the Newsroom and the impetus for BFN:
"Black Future Newsstand came about from different conversations where we were just talking about what would it be like if we could immerse people in a felt experience, a manifestation of this future media and technology system that we're organizing toward," said Watson, who emphasizes the importance of dreaming when making change. "[An installation that shows] what we want on the other side once we have won reparations: a media system that no longer functions to harm us, to perpetuate a myth of Black inferiority as a political project but a media system that is [instead] dripping with the truth of our communities and Black self-love because we love ourselves."
The livestream ended with a look toward the future including ongoing partnerships and asking respondents to chime in for the next stop of the BFN. Overall, the space was an engaging and lively conversation. You can watch the full event here.
Are you interested in featuring Media 2070 in your outlet or partnering with our team? Email publicist Tianna Mañón at tmanon@tiannamanon.com
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