BIPOC Journalists Provide Perspectives, Coverage of Trials
The Foundation has approved support for the work of Ampers, a group of 18 community-based radio stations in Minnesota, and local station KMOJ, as they cover the trials of the police officers involved in George Floyd’s killing. Their reporting – Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice – is told through the perspective of journalists of color and BIPOC community members. Their work will continue throughout the year and cover all trials of the police officers charged with the murder of George Floyd.
This unique project teams seasoned reporters alongside up-and-coming broadcast journalists from BIPOC communities, to create daily and weekly updates in Hmong, Somali and Spanish, as well as in-depth weekly radio shows and podcasts exploring criminal justice reform, community healing, community resiliency and more. The Minnesota Humanities Center will use the content to engage grassroots leaders from BIPOC communities in a series of listening sessions and public events to deepen dialog and spark change on issues arising during the trial. Additionally, the Minnesota Humanities Center will work with youth organizations and schools to provide teachers and students with tools for approaching controversial public issues responsive to current events.
The long-term goal of Racial Reckoning: The Arc of Justice is to work toward changing problematic racial narratives in local news media, engage communities, amplify community solutions to narrative change and empower educators to discuss race in the classroom.
MinnPost wrote about this project on its website. Read the article here.
