What if news stories about the criminal justice system were written by those who knew the issues best…formerly incarcerated men, women, and youth?
Introducing Philadelphia's Newest Criminal Justice Journalists...
A New Kind of News StoryThe Reentry Think Tank will train, fund, and support formerly incarcerated men, women, and youth to be Philadelphia’s newest criminal justice reporters. Fellows will research, produce, and publish a series of media pieces throughout sprin 2019. The fellowship centers formerly incarcerated Philadelphians as the criminal justice experts who are best suited to create media and messages that challenge stereotypes, illuminate hurdles to reentry, and present solutions to these urgent and systemic issues.
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From Research and Ethics,
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Publishing Silenced Stories,
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Meet Philadelphia's Newest Criminal Justice Reporters...
The Spring 2019 Media Justice Fellows:
Sheila Michael"We hope this fellowship will modify perceptions, help us gain resources, and expand outreach so criminal justice issues covered by the media will reach both the public and stakeholders in a positive light as we advocate for policy changes."
Project: Features focusing on the experiences, struggles, and ideas of women in reentry. 
Marcus Jarvis"Journalism about criminal justice has traditionally been told only by those who have technical knowledge instead of life experience...it’s time for Philadelphia to shine under a different light."
Project: Features focusing on juvenile justice reform. |
Abd' Allah Lateef"We want you to know that directly impacted folks are the experts of their own experiences. We are not a sound bite, headline or statistical talking point. We, just like everyone else in society, are complex human-beings with complicated lives, and stories."
Project: "Life After Life" features focusing on the experiences of former life sentenced children in Philadelphia. 
Joe Schwartz"Insight comes from experience. Effective reporting is best served when delivered by those directly affected by incarceration. Criminal justice journalism takes on a different light when viewed from within rather than from without. That’s why this project is so important."
Project: Features focusing on the experiences, struggles, and ideas of senior citizens in reentry. 
Raymond Jordan"As it is now, criminal justice journalism minimizes a certain sector of our population to second class citizens; we’re ready to change that."
Project: Features focusing on what needs to change in Philadelphia's halfway houses to help keep men and women free. |
Derrick Cain"Journalism helps me reach an audience or demographic that I otherwise couldn’t reach. I hope this project will change the culture and expand the selective stories that have traditionally been told."
Project: Features on successful formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs. 
Anthony Hirschbuhl"Journalism can help me mold my ideas and projects, then spread them through new avenues and outlets."
Project: Features focusing on probation reform. |
PROJECT TIMELINE:
Fellowship andTraining Begins:
Fellows will work to create their 1st piece, a personal profile that tells the story of the storytellers. They will then choose a barrier to reentry that they want to help solve through their stories. Fellows will engage a variety of trainings (journalism 101; ethics, interviews, fact checking, etc) while developing their story concept to the point of...
The PITCH
Fellows will present their story/media ideas to editors from local/regional papers, radio stations, online newspapers, and more. After getting feedback and publishing commitments, fellows will work with their media mentors to do research, interviews, recordings, and edit their solutions-focused media and send to their publishing partners.
From PUBLISHING to PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Using their published stories as starting points, not end points, fellows will co-lead a community conversation with city officials, social service providers, advocates, and reentry system stakeholders to focus on each of the solutions posed in the fellows stories
WHY NOW? WHY THIS PROJECT?
Because there’s power in the collaborative process of writing/sharing stories: Throughout our project, we have seen how powerful it can be to connect formerly incarcerated men, women, and teens with artists, lawyers, system stakeholders and city officials. The mere process of collaboration brings people together across differences in ways that produce vulnerable and generative experiences: destroying stigma and stereotypes; building bridges between siloed sectors; and producing stories, ideas, and impacts that are deep, surprising, and far reaching.
Because the stories we tell (hear and internalize) shape the world we live in: How the past and present is reported on is intrinsically tied to what future we, as a society, can imagine and therefore, strive to build. Expanding who is reporting to include those impacted by the criminal justice system, will add nuance, urgency and humanity to these complex issues while expanding the vision for a more just, safe, and equitable Philadelphia.
Because Philadelphia can be a model for community engaged media making: This issue has never been more urgent, and our project presents an exciting opportunity to showcase how communities closest to systemic struggles, can be essential partners in envisioning hyper local and city-wide solutions.
Because the stories we tell (hear and internalize) shape the world we live in: How the past and present is reported on is intrinsically tied to what future we, as a society, can imagine and therefore, strive to build. Expanding who is reporting to include those impacted by the criminal justice system, will add nuance, urgency and humanity to these complex issues while expanding the vision for a more just, safe, and equitable Philadelphia.
Because Philadelphia can be a model for community engaged media making: This issue has never been more urgent, and our project presents an exciting opportunity to showcase how communities closest to systemic struggles, can be essential partners in envisioning hyper local and city-wide solutions.
Made possible by the hearts, minds, and help of so many, and through the financial support of our amazing funders, thank you for helping to power this project:
