Courage and the ability to organize facts are two qualities that come to mind among the incredible journalists I have interacted with in my time at Digimentors (first as an observer, then as a volunteer and now as a full-timer). Rappler founder (and Nobel Peace Prize winner) Maria Ressa (who appeared on Sree Sreenivasan’s Global #COVID Show on July 23, 2020), was facing potential imprisonment when she spoke with Sreenivasan. That’s the courage part.
I’m incredulous at @mariaressa‘s humility. We should all hope to have so much courage to protect facts and press freedom. cc: @sree @rosehorowitz #sreecovid19call pic.twitter.com/UH6J6fsy3M
— Paula Kiger (She/Her) (@biggreenpen) July 24, 2020
Andrea Elliott, who documented the life of Dasani, a homeless child in New York City, for the New York Times, went on to write a book about her. Elliott has many professional accomplishments, but one relatively mundane thing that has stayed in my mind since I helped produce the #NYTReadalong featuring her, is the timeline she created of Dasani’s life and the related facts. This is organization.
What we can do
We can’t all be a Maria Ressa or an Andrea Elliott. However, there are things all of us can do to support a free press and keep Craig Newmark’s idea that “trustworthy press is the immune system of democracy” alive.
I’m gathering ideas for what people can do who want to make a difference but don’t feel that they are equipped to do so. There are many reasons for this. Some people are in jobs that don’t have a direct tie to protecting journalism. Others feel limited by lack of time or money. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to help.
Here are a few. This blog is not a finished product; I’d like this list to be a living, evolving creation. Send your ideas (via the comments, email or however you usually communicate with me), and I’ll add them.
Nurture the future
Tutor an aspiring journalist. This could be a middle school student, a high school student or someone in college. With so much education still taking place virtually, there’s probably a way to do this without having to travel to a school.
Digital volunteerism
My colleague, Andrew Lih, shared these sentiments about digital volunteerism:
Digital volunteering is an easy way to get involved in something that is journalistic yet high-impact. It could be as simple as tutoring, judging or providing feedback to students or early-career journalists. It could be more involved such as working on Wikipedia editing. For example, there is an effort underway to improve the quality of biographies of women in Wikipedia.
Help a nonprofit
Offer your journalism skills to a nonprofit (do their press releases, track a Google alert for them, help them compile a press list and tell them how to interact with journalists).
Support a journalist
I know this sounds so trite, but seriously. Tweet someone who applied objectivity and patience to telling a story well to let them know you appreciate their work, or send them an email. Think about how you feel when someone takes the time to praise your efforts.
Check out BookRiot’s suggestions
There are many excellent ideas in 9 Ways to Support Journalists Even if You’re Broke. I especially like “spend time with their articles.” Sounds simple, but it’s so easy to surrender the time we could be spending reading good work as we scroll social media or catch up with our latest streaming binge.
Like I said, everyone, this is just a start. Perhaps I need to make a Google document or something easier to organize. Could I be giving myself a new project (yikes)?
For now, let me know your thoughts! What have you tried? What have you yearned to do? The press needs us, all of us.
I’m also giving Maria Ressa the last word:
How can others help? “In your area of influence, make sure facts rule. What are you willing to sacrifice for facts, for the truth?” says @mariaressa talking to @sree and @RoseHorowitz31 on the #sreecovid19call.
— Paula Kiger (She/Her) (@biggreenpen) July 24, 2020
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
It’s so funny that I literally just hung up the phone with a journalist who had wanted to interview me.
Ha ha what a coincidence!
Journalists who are willing to do their research with open minds and the ability to communicate could SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY. Otherwise, we are doomed by liars and cheaters who care not for EVERY AMERICAN, but only the rich and white.
This this this exactly. You could have written this post! 🙂
To write is to influence. Daddy always told us kids there were two people in the world: those who make their name by destroying and those who make their name by building. Then he’d ask us, “Which are you? Decide now.”
When I was in training for Journalism, the idea of being a builder was constantly in my head. We have the tools to do it. We have the talent. All that remains is the ‘doing’ part!
I love this, Diane! Exactly meshes with what I was trying to say. Thanks for your words.