News deserts — both in regional areas that lost their newspapers and in communities that are underserved by media — are vastly growing and have a multifold impact. People in news deserts do not have access to the information they need to make informed decisions. Leaders tend not to be held accountable for their actions as they no longer have oversight from journalists. Communities of color or underrepresented groups often do not have their stories or concerns told unless they are connected to a big (often negative) event. People live in their bubbles and are inundated with misinformation/disinformation that fills the journalism void.
But, some groups and individuals are trying to change what's happening and are testing out different models to see what can work in an industry hurt by the drop in advertising dollars. Join us for a lively conversation on this important topic, with this panel of highly esteemed academics striving to make a difference.
Teri Finneman, associate professor of journalism at the University of Kansas, and publisher/founder of The Eudora Times. A decade after the fall of the legacy paper in that city, Finneman was able to evolve her class project into a full-out online newspaper with students covering the city commission, school board, businesses, sports and more.
Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), assistant professor at the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications and faculty supervisor to Good Morning Indian Country and KUJH News. She has been working to improve both coverage of Native people and issues and Native representation within news organizations.
Meg Heckman, associate professor of journalism and media innovation at Northeastern University and founding advisor of the Scope that works to connect communities, inform civic life and amplify voices overlooked by traditional media. She is aiming to solve the lack of gender equity in news organizations and the decline of the local information ecosystem.
Pamela E. Walck, associate professor of journalism at Duquesne University, director of the university's Institute for Ethics and Integrity in Journalism and Media, and editor of American Journalism. She has been working with her students on different ways to improve coverage of Pittsburgh's Hill District, a historically Black community.