I get yelled at for saying this but for many hundreds of years people went to university not to get diplomas or be employable but because immersion in the humanities was considered foundational to a good life, and school must return to its original purpose: the joy of learning.
Mainstream journalism is often: - Exploitative - Extractive - Centers authoritative voices (e.g., police, government officials) - Centers objectivity/neutrality at all costs—even when it causes harm - Encourages parachute journalism—when a reporter “parachutes” into a community & covers a story without having the proper context or existing relationships/ties with said community
Movement journalism aims to: Foster collaboration between journalists, organizers & their communities, resulting in authentic, trusting long-term relationships Be accountable to & in solidarity with grassroots justice movements Center the voices of the most impacted within communities Recognize that objectivity is a myth (i.e., all journalists’ work is influenced by their identities, beliefs & lived experiences) Provide training and resources to oppressed communities to tell their own stories and to journalists seeking to be in principled solidarity
We’re often asked, “What makes movement journalism different from mainstream journalism?” Good question! Read these pages from our #MovementJournalism 101 zine to learn the difference.
Drawing of flowers wrapped around unfurled barbed wire that says, “Unfence the Future.”
Sharing @studyhall.bsky.social's podcast episode feat. @tinavasquez.bsky.social for International Women’s Day (3/8)—a day w/ roots in early 20th century labor movements. Listen to Tina discuss her reporting on immigration, ice raids & workers’ rights @ tinyurl.com/studyhallpodcast. 🎨: Roger Peet
Leo Caldwell of transcollective.substack.com anonymously surveyed 100 trans individuals who moved in 2025 due to the political climate in their state and in the U.S. Check out the results at bit.ly/transmigrationdata, and consider using this data to push back against anti-trans legislation.
Antionette is a lover of peace, poetry, and solo camping in North Carolina. She is wearing a black shirt, rocking her winter braids, and a peace sign in her home office.
The newest cohort of our Freedomways Reporting Fellowship kicks off later this month! Each fellow has been paired with one of our three mighty mentors, including Antionette! She is a journalist & nonprofit leader who co-founded and publishes Davidson Local, a hyperlocal news site in Lexington, N.C.
Black and white drawing of movement elder Aljosie Aldrich Harding. She has cropped hair and is wearing earrings. She sits in a chair that says, “In loving memory of Vincent G. Harding.”
Aljosie Aldrich Harding (b. 1941) “The main thing I like to share about activism and change, is that the heart of it is that inner work, that inner work that you do yourself that keeps you strong, that keeps you stable, and helps you to see injustice everywhere and at the same time believe that something is possible.” Reared in segregated North Carolina, Aljosie Aldrich Harding began learning, teaching, and building social justice skills along with organizing in the 1960s as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Lome, Togo, West Africa. She has been a servant-leader at the Institute of the Black World (Atlanta), a think tank and advocacy organization, and the Learning House (Atlanta), an independent Afrocentric freedom school. She built intergenerational relationships with social justice and peace organizations across the United States and abroad with her co-worker, partner, and late husband, Vincent Harding. Her organizational links have included the Bruderhof, Soka Gakkai International, Young Adult Quakers, the Dorothy Cotton Institute, the Walter Rodney Symposium and Foundation, Tewa Women United, Kid Cultivators, and the Yale-National University of Singapore. As a spiritual guide and self-described ‘pollinator,’ she shares healing justice practices in all her organizational work and is a proselytizer of radical love. She is a member of the National Council of Elders. Hear more from Aljosie by tuning into the National Council of Elders podcast, "The Nerve! Conversations with Movement Elders" on all streaming platforms. Aljosie Aldrich Harding is a Freedom Fighter, and she teaches us how to fight, and love, and to trust the divine timing of the universe.
It may be the end of Black History Month, but we celebrate Black movement elders all year round! Meet Aljosie Aldrich Harding, Movement Elder-in-Residence @projectsouth.bsky.social: a Black movement elder who believes in the power of movement journalism. We’re grateful for her life and legacy.
Not sure if this counts as R&B but...
Check out the third and final installment of our Fact-Checking 101 series, as told by Siri Chilukuri, freelance journalist, fact-checker & team lead at City Bureau! Learn the key features of mis/disinformation and how they’re spread.
Intro to Movement Journalism: A Virtual Training. Request a free slot by February 23 at bit.ly/introtomj, or pay the full cost ($99) at bit.ly/introtomj2. What: Intro to Movement Journalism, a virtual training facilitated by Tina Vásquez, Prism features editor & Freedomways Reporting Fellowship coordinator at Press On When: Friday, February 27, 10:00-11:30am PT/ 12:00-1:30pm CT / 1:00-2:30pm ET Participants will: - Learn the history, ethics, and commitments of movement journalism - Learn what distinguishes movement journalism from traditional reporting - Learn how journalists are building a career in movement journalism - Participate in a Q&A session with a seasoned journalist about movement journalism Accessibility: Training will be delivered in English. Live captioning will be provided. Even more reason to register: All attendees will receive a free three-month subscription to Study Hall, giving you access to a community of 4,500 members, with weekly newsletters and original reports, Slack chats, and editor databases.
Learn how to make media to amplify grassroots liberation movements at our Feb. 27 virtual Intro to #MovementJournalism training w/ @studyhall.bsky.social! Facilitated by @tinavasquez.bsky.social. Request a free slot by Feb. 23 @ bit.ly/introtomj, or pay the full cost ($99) @ bit.ly/introtomj2.
Press On Fact-Checking 101 for Movement Journalists Part II as told by Siri Chilukuri, journalist & fact-checker
Which parts of a story need to be fact-checked? - Names - Dates - Ages - Numbers - Pronouns - Titles - Proper spelling What are the basic steps involved when fact-checking a story? 1. Read through all the material without fact-checking. 2. Mark and identify everything that needs to be fact-checked (reminder: a fact will likely appear in nearly every sentence).
What are the basic steps involved when fact-checking a story? (continued) 3. Highlight/bracket every fact and then identify them by category. 4. Find a primary source to correspond with every fact. If you can’t find a primary source, locate a secondary source. If there are no secondary sources, flag it for the reporter or editor. 5. Double-check that after the reporter or editor has reviewed your notes, they actually enacted your suggested changes (e.g., “cut this because it’s inaccurate,” “make sure you remember to change the year”).
It’s time for part II of our Fact-Checking 101 series, as told by Siri Chilukuri, freelance journalist, fact-checker & team lead at City Bureau! Find out which parts of a story need to be fact-checked and the five basic steps involved when fact-checking a story.
Image description from Prism: “A protest on Jan. 3, 2026, in New York City’s Times Square against the Trump administration’s kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.”
For @prismreports.org, @meghnadbose.bsky.social & Jerry Elengical report on widespread U.S. protests against President Donald Trump’s kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro & his wife, Cilia Flores, on Jan. 3. Read the story at bit.ly/antivenezuelawar. 📸: Meghnad Bose
Image description from NewsGuild CWA: “Members of the Post Guild and Tech Guild picket outside The Washington Post building in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2025.”
Journalists don’t give up without a fight! The 300 workers laid off by the The Washington Post on February 4 need our support to #SaveThePost!
Send a letter to the paper’s leadership and/or donate to the @postguild.bsky.social's layoff fund at bit.ly/savewapost. 📸: Dylan Manshack
Fact-Checking 101 for Movement Journalists Part I. As told by Siri Chilukuri, journalist & fact-checker.
What is a fact? A fact is something that can be proven or disproven. How do you prove a fact is correct or not? You can prove whether a fact is correct or not by sourcing, which is the process of finding evidence to back up your claim. What types of sources do journalists use to verify facts? Journalists use primary and secondary sources to verify facts in their stories. Bowdoin College Library defines a primary source as “an account of an event by a participant or eyewitness at the time” and a secondary source as one that “interprets, discusses or analyzes” and is usually a text.
Examples of primary sources include: Diaries, letters, memoirs Interviews, speeches, oral histories Scientific data and reports Scholarly journal articles Statistical and survey data Works of art, photographs, music, or literature Legal cases, hearings, laws Official government documents and reports Minutes of organization meetings Newspaper and magazine articles List source: Bowdoin College Library
Examples of secondary sources include: Books Scholarly journal articles (depends on discipline) Magazine articles Encyclopedia entries Reviews and magazine articles List source: Bowdoin College Library
For the next three weeks, we’ll be sharing fact-checking basics from Siri Chilukuri @siric.bsky.social, freelance journalist, fact-checker & team lead at City Bureau! Learn what a fact is and what kind of sources journalists use to verify a fact in part I one of our Fact-Checking 101 series.
Movement journalists: Check out these tips from movement lawyer Sam Hamilton of @atlpresscollective.com and @aaaj-aajc.bsky.social to keep in mind if you get arrested on the job (this doesn’t constitute legal advice; contact an attorney for advice specific to your circumstances).
Graphic with a red, black & green background and cutout photos of Black journalists (left to right) Ida B. Wells, Monica Roberts & Claudia Jones. It says, “Movement journalism wouldn’t exist without Black people. Who are your favorite Black movement journalists?”
Movement journalism wouldn’t exist without Black people, something to remember this Black History Month & all year round. Black journalists like Ida B. Wells, Monica Roberts & Claudia Jones laid the foundation for us.
Who are your favorite Black movement journalists? Let us know in the replies!
Black women and femmes at a protest.
Black feminism has always been a beacon for grassroots justice movements. For @prismreports.org, Gracelynne West spoke to organizers across the country about why Black feminism is a key intervention in this political moment. Read West’s story @ bit.ly/blackfeministorganizing. 📸: iStock
Drawing with anti-ICE imagery. It says, “Block it! Don’t build it. Don’t fill it. Don’t fuel it. How are you disrupting the ICE kidnapping, detention & deportation?
Learn how to join local campaigns to protect your neighbors from ICE & Border Patrol—check out the new mini-toolkit “Block it! Don’t Build It. Don’t Fill It. Don’t Fuel It.” at bit.ly/blockittoolkit by @interruptcrim.bsky.social, @detentionwatchnetwork.org & others. 🎨: Monica Trinidad
Graphic that says, "ICE out! Nationwide shutdown! No work. No school. No shopping. Jan 30, 2026. Sign on to join us: nationalshutdown.org."
Art by Grae Rosa depicting a canister of salt with a logo of a girl holding an umbrella over her head as she pours out salt. The canister says, "Melting ICE. Justice for immigrants and refugees. Abolish Immigration & Customs Enforcement."
Sending love to all of our folks shutting it down. Special shout-out to the movement media makers documenting this historic day so future generations will know the people didn't sit by idly as ICE terrorized our communities. 🎨: Grae Rosa
We express our solidarity with Georgia Fort & Don Lemon as they vow to continue their reporting despite facing federal criminal charges, just as Ida B. Wells continued her anti-lynching reporting after a white mob torched her newspaper office in 1892. Without solidarity, we will never get free.
A diverse group of three Borealis grantees smile and pose for a photo at the Diamond Dreams Ball.
Two Borealis grantees smile and pose for a photo at the ball.
Photo of the outside of the ball’s venue, Coca-Cola Roxy. The marquee on the building says, “Diamond Dreams Ball. A crystal clear vision for the next ten years.”
Actor Nicco Annan stands at a podium onstage and announces the judges of the ball competition (their photos & names are projected on a screen): TAYLOR ALXNDR, Dr. David Johns, Leiomy Maldonado, Jillian Mercado & Chastity “Temptress” Moore.
What a joy to dance alongside fellow @borealisphil.bsky.social grantees at their Diamond Dreams Ball last month in Atlanta, Ga., a celebration of their 10-year anniversary!
Thanks to Borealis for continuing to invest in our work & helping us end 2025 with a lot of sparkle! #BoriDiamondDreams
Collage of images with slogans related to movement journalism: #MeToo, Trans Rights Are Human Rights, Defund the Police #BlackLivesMatter.
It’s a new year, but our mission remains the same: advancing the practice of movement journalism. @lewispants.bsky.social penned a series for @objectivejournos.bsky.social on eight ways movement journalism creates liberatory change @ bit.ly/transformingnarratives. 📸: Wikimedia Commons/James Salanga
“Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at a 1964 press conference at Gracie Mansion in New York.”
Take a moment to read Uyiosa Elegon’s commentary @ bit.ly/mlkjournalism on how mainstream journalism has kowtowed to the evils of militarism, racism & poverty MLK fought against: “Why seek to redeem an industry that favors maintaining the status quo over truth and justice?” 📸: Library of Congress
Graphic with screenshot showing that Press On reached our $3,000 end-of-year fundraising goal (includes photo of three Press On staff members). It says, “Thank you! We reached our 2025 end-of-year fundraising goal because of YOU.”
And now for some good news: We met our 2025 end-of-year fundraising goal! Thanks to you, we’ll be able to train, fund, resource & connect Southern movement journalists, storytellers & organizers for another year. You can contribute to us year-round at presson.media/donate. We appreciate y’all! ✨
Repost from @objectivejournos.bsky.social’s IG: “For our last 2025 post, we wanted to share the graphic notes from our Trans Media Convening panels 🏳️⚧️…” www.instagram.com/p/DS83anjEdX...
Colorful collage with four photos of diverse groups of people smiling and posing at different Press On events throughout 2025.
Saying “thank you” to our many partners this year is the least we can do. But we do sincerely thank you for making our year such a success. We can’t wait to see what we build together in 2026!
Photo of Rae, a white person with short hair, glasses, wearing a flannel, and a dark Carhartt jacket, posing for the camera. Behind them are mountains and the sky. The image says, "Country Queers project shares stories of rural LGBTQ+ life through book and podcast by Jules Crawley."
A quote from Rae Garringer: “It’s a really generous gift, I think, when people trust you enough to share these kinds of really personal stories.”
Book cover for “Country Queers, a Love Letter.” It features a lavender background and a clear boot-shaped mug holding a bouquet of wildflowers.
Repost from @queerkentucky.bsky.social’s IG: “✍️ .@julesinurpocket Since 2013, West Virginia’s Rae Garringer has been documenting the untold stories of rural queer and trans folks through Country Queers, a multimedia oral history project and podcast turned book..." www.instagram.com/p/DQUBh0tABb_/
Photo of participants from a previous Black Trans Short Film Festival with the words, “Comfrey Films BTSFF 2026. Submissions open. comfreyfilms.org/submissions.”
Graphic with festival submissions timeline. January 7 is the late submission deadline.
Graphic with submissions criteria: 1) Film must be less than 20 minutes in length. 2) Final Submission Deadline is January 7th, 2026. 3) Film must be directed, produced or written by a Trans/Gender Non-Conforming/Intersex (TGNCI) person of African descent and/or who otherwise identifies as Black, and must also feature TGNCI persons of African descent, or tell a story of Black TGNCI experiences.
Black trans, gender nonconforming & intersex filmmakers: Comfrey Films’ Black Trans Short Film Festival wants your work! Submit your work at comfreyfilms.org/submissions, and help us spread the word!
💫 Final deadline: January 7
🎞 Short films only (<20 mins)
Press On’s three staff collective members (a cute, multiracial queer group) pose and smile in front of a background with a map of the southeastern U.S. It says, “The horrors persist but so does the resistance! Support movement journalism today!” and includes a QR code that takes you to Press On’s donation link at bit.ly/resist2026.
Graphic with a drawing of a brain adorned with flowers and leaves that says, “What did you learn from Press On this year?”
In 2025, did you learn anything new from Press On? Did you benefit from our programs? If so, consider making a tax-deductible donation to our collective by 12/31 @ bit.ly/resist2026.
So far, we’ve raised 31% of our end of the year fundraising goal. We can’t make it to the finish line without you!
Three Black people smile at the camera. The two people on the left are wearing glasses, the person on the right has on a hat.
Two people smile at the camera, one wearing glasses, the other wearing a hijab.
A photo of a large banner for the 59th annual meeting of the oral history association 'Exploring Our American Stories".
A photo of three people sitting while teaching at a workshop.
Last month, we attended the Oral History Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga. We’re grateful for oral historians who engage with movement-building & movement journalism. They help us shape our collective memory & never forget the wins of our movement ancestors.
In a @prismreports.org op-ed, formerly incarcerated writer Derek Trumbo guides us through the social barriers that have replaced the physical bars of prison upon his release. Read his piece @ bit.ly/acheofuncertainty; his words are essential, humanizing the post-incarceration plight. 🎨: Rikki Li
