Keeping it Local: Representation in Colorado Journalism

2101 Arapahoe Street,Denver CO 80205

13 October, 2021

Description

This town hall, presented in partnership with the Open Media Foundation, will explore representation in Colorado in journalism. After years ravaged by press layoffs, newsroom shutterings, and attacks on the media, the need for a community-driven rescue mission for local journalism has never been more evident. But first, we must understand the problem and collectively reaffirm how integral local news coverage is to the health of a community, both literally and figuratively. In order to begin this conversation and foster public awareness and grassroots advocacy for local news media, PEN America is launching a series of town hall convenings to bring together members of the press, elected officials, and the public to discuss the landscape of local news in 2021. This town hall, presented in partnership with the Open Media Foundation, will explore representation in Colorado in journalism. Journalists and the stories they write should reflect and reach the communities they cover—unfortunately, this is often not the case. In this town hall, we’ll take a look at the statistics in your city and/or state and explore the disparities in representation: How many BIPOC journalists report for your local newspaper? How many women work at your local radio station? Are there people with disabilities reporting on your nightly news? This discussion will illuminate the importance of having a diversity of reporters covering state level and federal activity as a way to foster trust, transparency, and government accountability. We’ll also discuss legislative solutions to disappearing news deserts and ways to increase circulation and accessibility to credible news sources.