News In Context

The impact of language in journalism with Dana Sitar

In this episode, we talk with Dana Sitar… Freelance writer & editor in personal finance, careers, and digital media. Dana recently wrote a piece for The Poynter Institute exploring how using the passive voice in journalism can lead to accusations of bias… taking sides… or obscuring responsibility. Our conversation focused on how journalists have historically used language… and how in this moment, we have an opportunity to identify and reckon with our biases… our verbal crutches… and our ingrained habits. Doing this can help journalists and other content creators be more inclusive of… and accountable to everyone in the audiences… and strengthen trust with the community.

Barry Thomas on Race & Social Justice in the U.S.

In this episode. We explore America’s ongoing and persistent issues when it comes to race and social justice... in particular holding a mirror up to all of us in the U.S. … so we can face our history… and do the work required to push back on the structural racism that marginalizes, restricts, and harms our black and brown neighbors… and also make room for voices outside the mainstream… to have a seat at the table.

My guest is Barry Thomas, Professional Educator, Community Advocate & Activist in Omaha, Nebraska, who is concerned about issues related to race within the country and has dedicated his time to addressing these issues and educating the community.

While this interview was recorded just prior to the police killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and unrest… our conversation remains relevant, given the fact that both Floyd’s killing and the killing of Ahmaud Arbery and others stem from the systemic racism that permeates U-S society.

This episode is Part TWO of my interview with Barry Thomas. You can hear part ONE at NewsInContext.net.

Barry Thomas on Racially Motivated Incidents & Media in the U.S.

In this episode. We explore America’s ongoing and persistent issues when it comes to race and social justice... in particular how race can be weaponized… sometimes with deadly consequences.

Our guest is Barry Thomas, Professional Educator – Community Advocate & Activist in Omaha, Nebraska, who is concerned about issues related to race within the country… and has dedicated his time to addressing these issues.

When Barry and I initially talked, it was a few days after the arrest of the two men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery, the man who was chased down and killed in Georgia while on a jog.

Since the recording… our nation now faces other incidents of the weaponizing of race… including a white woman dubbed Central Park Becky threatening to tell police that a black man was threatening her… after he asked her to leash her dog in a sensitive area of the park.

The second incident caught on camera this week ended far more tragically. George Floyd lost his life while in police custody, after an officer took him to the ground and held a knee on his neck for several minutes. On mobile phone video… Floyd can be heard saying that he cannot breathe. The officer did not move… and soon Floyd was not moving, either.

Though these incidents happened after our interview… they are relevant to our discussion.

This episode is Part One of my interview with Barry Thomas… as we explore the role of cell phone video, social media, and media coverage of these incidents.

Next week, we’ll delve deeper into the soul of the U.S…. and why these incidents and issues persist.

The Role of Libraries in Communities, Every Day & In Crisis

When we think libraries, many of us think-  BOOKS! But, libraries are so much more and often the heart of a community. They also play a critical role during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we explore the context of libraries and their role in communities – both everyday… and during a crisis. Joining me is an incredible panel representing various aspects of the San Francisco Public Library. Michelle Jeffers is Chief of Community Programs & Partnership at SFPL. Marie Ciepiela is Executive Director of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. And, Jaena Rae Cabrera is Acting Branch Manager and West Portal Branch… and front-line essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tales of Two Pandemics: with Dr. Nancy Bristow

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Nancy Bristow… Chair of the History Department at the University of Puget Sound… and author of American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic.

This episode is Part Two of my interview with Dr. Bristow… our focus? The stories of those affected by the flu pandemic, and how those stories help us understand our history and relate to each other.

1918 Flu Pandemic vs. COVID-19: Nancy Bristow, U Puget Sound

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Nancy Bristow… Chair of the History Department at the University of Puget Sound… and author of American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic.

This episode is Part One of my interview with Dr. Bristow… our focus? America’s response to the 1918 flu pandemic… and how it compares to today.

Next week, we’ll delve deeper into the stories of those affected by the flu pandemic… and how those stories help us understand our history… and relate to each other.

The Importance of SEEing. with Civity Co-Founders Malka Kopell & Palma Strand

Civity co-founders Malka Kopell and Palma Strand discuss the importance of SEEing, and how the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have led to an increase in us SEEing each other and each other's humanity.

Failing to SEE each other can lead to othering, marginalizing, and even violence. We’ve seen examples of that during the pandemic… when some people othered Asian Americans by falsely accusing them of spreading the virus. In some cases, people were physically harmed. But we’ve also seen examples of SEEING – such as appreciating health care workers, grocery store employees, delivery drivers, and other essential workers putting their lives on the line to help us.

Civity is an organization working to engage people across community and societal differences… often differences involving power structures that can leave one group feeling left out or marginalized. Civity is also a concept – a culture of deliberately engaging in relationships of respect and empathy with those who are different.

News In Context: News Coverage of COVID-19, with Ed Beebout & Anne Belden

In this episode, we explore how the news media is doing in covering COVID-19 – including the responses of public officials… the data on infections and deaths… and the deeper work of explaining and giving context to all aspects of this ongoing story. My guests are Anne Belden and Ed Beebout, two professional journalists turned college professors.

Anne runs the award-winning journalism program at Santa Rosa Junior College and is chair of the Department of Communication Studies. Before coming to academe, she worked as editor and managing editor at several Bay Area community newspapers and national parenting publications. Ed spent 25 years in broadcast television as a reporter and anchor, including Santa Rosa TV Station KFTY. He is now chair of the communication & media studies department at Sonoma State University.

Social Media & The Presidential Campaign During COVID-19, with Dr. Amber Boydstun

In part 2 of my interview with Dr. Boydstun, we explore social media and our own behavior as media audiences and consumers… AND people connected to other people in communities.

Framing During COVID-19, with Dr. Amber Boydstun

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Amber Boydstun, Associate Professor of Political Science at UC Davis, and author of Making the News… about how media influence framing and attention. We explored how framing and attention are at play during the time of COVID-19, as we shelter-in-place, rely more and more on digital spaces for engagement and news, and navigate the ever growing onslaught of information and misinformation delivered to us in our digital spaces.

Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, ED of NAMLE, on Media Literacy & COVID-19

We talk with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education – or NAMLE. Our focus? How media literacy can help us navigate news and information in the time of COVID-19… and the challenges we face when media literacy skills are lacking.

The Relationship Among Newsrooms, Audiences, and Information, w/Dr. Chandra Clark

Dr. Chandra Clark, Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama, has expertise in electronic news and analysis of the news ecosystem. We got together to discuss new normals in news: how audiences respond to coverage; how news outlets respond to audiences; and how we all respond to the quickened information flow that comes with social media and instant access. Though this interview was recorded a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the globe… many of the issues and topics Chandra and I explored resonate with what’s happening today - in particular navigating an onslaught of information; trying to figure out what’s true and whom to trust; and how the way information flows reveals truths about who we are as people.

Xyza News for Kids with Sapna Satagopan, Pt. 2

In Part 2 of my interview with Xyza News for Kids co-founder Sapna Satagopan, we discuss how teachers, parents, and kids can access and process news, and how Xyza can contribute to media literacy. In addition to providing news… Xyza also invites young people to cover the news. Anyone under 18 can become a junior reporter… where you have the opportunity to craft news stories and opinion pieces… engage via polls… and share information about news and events happening near you.

Xyza News for Kids with Sapna Satagopan, Pt. 1

In this episode, I talk with Sapna Satagopan… co-founder of Xyza News for Kids, an outlet that provides reliable, relatable, current, and easy-to-understand news and information for teens and tweens.

In addition to providing news… Xyza also invites young people to cover the news. Anyone under 18 can become a junior reporter… where you have the opportunity to craft news stories and opinion pieces… engage via polls… and share information about news and events happening near you.

Human Library with Derek Wolfgram & Jenny Barnes

Redwood City Library Director Derek Wolfgram and Library Services Supervisor Jenny Barnes talk about the Redwood City Public Library's Human Library, which helps to bridge divides by allowing readers to check out human "books" and have a conversation across difference.

Framing in Primary Media Coverage w/Anne Belden & Ed Beebout

Journalists turned professors Anne Belden of Santa Rosa Junior College and Ed Beebout of Sonoma State University, discuss how media framing of the candidates, issues, and primary process can influence our perceptions of the candidates… and ultimately how or whether we vote.

Context with John Zipperer, VP of Editorial at The Commonwealth Club

Gina sits down with John Zipperer, Vice President of Editorial at The Commonwealth Club of California, to discuss the importance of contextualizing news to help better inform the public about the information we all need to know and understand to engage with our communities and society.