Recently, COM and JPIC students were treated to a special class panel on “Black press in Seattle, past, present and future.” The panel featured Omari Salisbury of Converge Media, Chris Bennett of The Seattle Medium, and JPIC alum, Chardonnay Beaver, whose family owns and runs the news outlet, The Facts.
Salisbury, Bennett, and Beaver shared their insights on the importance of Black news outlets in contemporary society, the beginnings of Black press in Seattle, the role of local publications in shaping community, and more.
“The panelists brought the course readings to life!” Dr. Timeka Tounsel, faculty member and panel co-organizer, said. “Getting the opportunity to discuss the evolution of the Black Press with people who are living that history was an amazing constructive learning experience. Too often public histories amplify civil rights struggles that emerged in regions with larger Black populations. So, it was especially important for students in my Black Cultural Studies course to interact with the journalists and publishers making history right here in the Pacific Northwest.”
“I was inspired by how the members at the panel saw a need from the community and were able to create something for them,” said Ariana Santos Enriquez, a student in Dr. Tounsel’s class. “I am a Latina and with everything that is going on in politics, many of the trusted networks that gave the Latino community in the US news decided to enforce racist ads, which was disappointing to say the least. Our local Latino news network was removed from us for a couple years now as well. The panel members made me believe that I too could create something meaningful and impactful for my community.”
This discussion was organized by faculty members Andrea Otáñez and Timeka Tounsel, and Josh Griffin, Assistant Director of the CCDE.
