Open application through 11:59pm ET, October 13th, 2023.
Prism and Indiegraf have partnered to offer journalism training and community media best practices to a cohort of 20 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 or civic information to serve your community? Are you curious about how you could use journalism or community media platforms to expand your impact?
Our totally free inaugural program will take place between October 25 and November 8 in three live weekly, 90-minute online workshops, where participants will learn the nuts and bolts of the editorial process and gain strategies to build their news platform.
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.
Program Details
This three-week program is ideal for anyone who wants to learn how to use storytelling to better serve their communities and activate their audience around solutions. 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: How to tell impactful stories (Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, 12:00-1:30 PT/3:00-4:30 ET)
- Live training: (1 hour)
- Story types and the editorial process
- Workshop: Discussion (30 minutes)
Session 2: How to serve communities in an equitable way (Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, 12:00-1:30 PT/3:00-4:30 ET)
- Live training: (1 hour)
- Solutions journalism and ethics: How to care for your sources
- Workshop: Discussion (30 minutes)
Session 3: How to build strong community news products (Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, 12:00-1:30 PT/3:00-4:30 ET)
- Live training: (1 hour)
- Product development: Defining your product and audience
- Planning for sustainability: Building 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 journalism and how equity-seeking journalists are redefining the practice to better serve their communities
- Resources for how to experiment with starting your own local news source to fill news gaps in your community and make an impact
- Mentorship from Prism journalists and Indiegraf journalist-entrepreneurs
- 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
- A certificate of completion, granted by Indiegraf and Prism
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 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.
Our stories and narratives should reflect all of us. 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. How much does this cost?
This program is totally free! The cost is covered by Indiegraf (thank you, partner!).
2. What is the deadline to apply?
Applications open Monday, Sept. 11 and close Friday at 11:59pm ET, Oct. 13. Keep in mind that each application is reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. 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 projects and stories. As such, we encourage participants to have these projects/pitches in mind while attending the program so we can answer questions and brainstorm strategies together.
4. What if I can’t attend the live sessions but still want to participate?
We strongly encourage live participation in our workshops for the most engagement, and as such, we will be prioritizing applicants who are able to attend the live sessions (which you can see listed in the Program Details section).
With that said, we understand life happens!
5. Will session recordings be available for later or asynchronous viewing?
Yes!
6. 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 8.
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 13, 2023.
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!
