Often the stories of marginalized communities are the least likely to be told. For a variety of reasons — including the fear, trauma, and language barriers of potential sources — it can be difficult to report on these communities effectively and respectfully. By attending this class, you’ll learn:
(1) The initial steps to take when covering a marginalized community for the first time.
(2) How to learn about a community’s culture and customs ahead of your reporting.
(3) Considerate ways to overcome obstacles in your reporting while still empowering your sources to share their stories.
Before attending this class, we recommend you view the following lessons:
Presented by Auditi Guha, a northwest & equity reporter/editor at VTDigger. She started her reporting career at a national daily in India before moving to Boston for a master’s degree in journalism from Emerson College. She has worked at several community newspapers in Massachusetts. She was one of 30 fellows for the Poynter Institute’s Leadership Academy for Women in Media in spring 2023, one of 12 H.F. Guggenheim Foundation criminal justice fellows in 2012, and has won multiple reporting awards. Auditi is a founding member of the Boston chapter of the South Asian Journalists Association, a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Society of Environmental Journalists, Lion Publishers and a mentor for young journalists with Report for America and the New England First Amendment Coalition. Her work has appeared in the Boston Globe, Providence Journal, KPFA, HuffPost, Rewire News and Associated Press.
The 30 Minute Skills program is presented by the New England First Amendment Coalition. The goal of the program is to provide reporters and other citizens with knowledge they can use immediately in newsgathering, data collection, storytelling, and other areas of journalism and First Amendment law.
The lessons are provided in a 30-minute format to accommodate the demanding schedules faced by many working in New England newsrooms. The program is free and open to the public. Registration for each lesson is required.