Maria Hinojosa on Inclusive Storytelling, and Journalists of Color Creating Newsrooms from Tennessee to Laguna Pueblo Lands
This week Farai Chideya talks with journalists who are changing the world around them. First, veteran journalist Maria Hinojosa on creating a more inclusive newsroom as one of the pioneering Latinas in public radio. Then journalist Wendi Thomas on why she built a newsroom by and for locals in Memphis; and Jenni Monet on decolonizing our news feeds. The New York Times’ Somini Segupta talks about covering the climate crisis. And Lisa Lucas explains how a Twitter hashtag changed her career path, and her goals as a new publisher. Plus, the women behind the Guild of Future Architects join Farai for the second part of their conversation on envisioning our collective future.
Episode Rundown
1:22 Veteran journalist Maria Hinojosa talks about the ups and the downs of her career in public radio and what she’s learned in the process.
5:12 Hinojosa talks about having to defend herself in the newsroom, even as colleagues accused her of having a “Latino agenda.”
6:55 Hinojosa talks about creating the newsroom she wished she had as a young journalist, in Futuro Media Group.
13:05 Tennessee journalist Wendi Thomas on why she started her media outlet, MLK 50, and how she was able to get the funding to make it all happen.
15:40 Thomas recently won an award for her investigative piece about a local hospital suing patients, “whose only mistake was being sick and poor at the same time.”
17:05 Thomas talks about why local journalism is so important in creating change.
18:30 Our weekly Covid update looks into how the pandemic has wreaked havoc on those who were already experiencing hardships before Covid.
20:39 Investigative reporter Jenni Monet talks about her newsletter, called Indigenously: Decolonizing Your News Feed.
24:04 Chideya and Monet reflect on their time at Standing Rock and whether or not people should expect their government to make change.
27:42 Somini Sengupta shares what she’s learned covering climate change for The New York TImes, “I've learned that climate change is not a future risk. It is a now risk.”
32:03 Lisa Lucas, the Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, talks about rising up in the literary world.
35:57 Lucas talks about the tweet that landed her a publishing job.
34:40 Lucas never imagined herself to be a publisher, but has big goals for the position.
38:39 Journalist Sarah Smarsh talks about her piece “Poor Teeth,” which explores the accessibility of dental care in America and how it is an indicator of socioeconomic status.
40:39 Smarsh talks about The Poor People’s Campaign and how it is carrying out the legacy of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
42:42 Why Dolly Parton is an important role model for feminist, working class women.
44:28 Guild of Future Architects founder Sharon Chang explores the importance of imagination in studying history.
46:36 Farai shares a listener voicemail and discusses paths to equitable and accessible care systems with the Guild of Future Architects leaders.
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free