It’s time for new perspectives
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About Perspectives
Falling trust, the rise of AI, misinformation, economic struggles – there are some big challenges currently facing journalism.
We need new tools and mental models to meet this moment, and we shouldn’t restrict our search just to the conferences, institutions, and keynote speakers to which we always turn.
There are other industries and communities who face similar challenges, and create their own solutions. Perspectives turns to movements and people outside news for inspiration, strategies, and frameworks for tackling some of our biggest challenges. We then create spaces to share this knowledge with journalists.
Within our events, Perspectives aims to:
Perspectives is a project of Contina Impact, a 501(c)3 organization.
We need new tools and mental models to meet this moment, and we shouldn’t restrict our search just to the conferences, institutions, and keynote speakers to which we always turn.
There are other industries and communities who face similar challenges, and create their own solutions. Perspectives turns to movements and people outside news for inspiration, strategies, and frameworks for tackling some of our biggest challenges. We then create spaces to share this knowledge with journalists.
Within our events, Perspectives aims to:
- Change assumptions about what is possible in journalism
- Introduce new methods for impact and sustainability
- Create spaces where journalists can imagine and seek clarity on difficult questions by stepping outside the constraints of our industry
Perspectives is a project of Contina Impact, a 501(c)3 organization.
- We ran an event in Philadelphia on cross-community solidarity.
- We supported a SRCCON session on what journalism can learn from anthropology.
- We brought the same anthropologist to Gather to be a monthly community curator.
- We ran an event for ONA24 in Atlanta on how the other creative industries are adapting to AI.
- Interested in a 2025 event? Get in touch to discuss opportunities to work together. Contact us.
Us in 2024
Support our work
- We’re seeking grants, donations, and sponsorships to support our events and operating expenses. We’re entirely volunteer-run – all monies go directly to our modest programming and operating costs. Our goal is $10,000 but donations of any size make a big difference.
- Donations are tax deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Policy Impact.
- Previous supporters include OpenNews, Reynolds Journalism Institute, News Product Alliance, and the American Press Institute.
Previous events
Online
September 2024
September 2024
Created with Gather
We helped Emily Kennedy of AnthroJourno.org become the monthly curator of Gather, the platform for community-minded journalists.
This involved:
- Sharing resources and answering questions
- Running a video discussion with anthropologists about how to improve community reporting
- Writing about how to integrate with different communities through ethnographic best practices
Atlanta
September 2024
September 2024
Created alongside ONA24 in collaboration with Rodney Gibbs
This event was held in the Knight Lounge and focused on how AI is shaping the way local musicians and filmmakers create and work.
It featured:
- Isaac Hayes III, futurist, founder of Fanbase, and son of soul singer Isaac Hayes
- Uwonda Carter, founding partner at Carter+Woodward, whose clients include King Willonious, the creator of BBL Drizzy
- Dr Fahamu Pecou, a local artist and filmmaker who uses AI in his work
The event was moderated by Dr. Joycelyn Wilson, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech with a focus on hip-hop studies and digital media.
Supported by the Knight Foundation
Minneapolis
August 2024
August 2024
Created with SRCCON 2024
This event focused on teaching ethnographic methods that can be used in journalism via a hands-on workshop and workbook.
It featured:
- Emily Kennedy, founder of AnthroJourno.org
- Dr Adam Gamwell, editor of Anthropology News and host of This Anthro Life podcast
Philadelphia
June 2024
June 2024
Created in collaboration with Resolve Philly
This event was held at the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School and was focused on what local journalism can learn from AAPI inter-community solidarity.
It featured:
This event was held at the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School and was focused on what local journalism can learn from AAPI inter-community solidarity.
It featured:
- Debbie Wei, founding member of Asian Americans United
- Mohan Seshadri, Co-Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance
- Vivian Chang, Executive Director of Asian Americans United
Supported by the American Press Institute and AAJA-Philadelphia
Minneapolis
October 2023
October 2023
Created alongside SRCCON 2023
This event was held at the Cedar Cultural Center and explored how communities rethink their futures following a crisis.
It featured:
- Jeanelle Austin, the Executive Director of the George Floyd Global Memorial, who talked about how they keep control of their own narrative
- Jessica Eckerstorfer, co-director of the Southeast Asian Diaspora Project, who shared how they approach community narratives through joy and empowerment
- Paul Andrighetti, Development Director of CAPI, who discussed how they support immigrant communities through culturally appropriate methods
A Q&A was moderated by Andrea Pierre, KRSM station manager and host of The Narrative.
Supported by the American Press Institute, the Donald W Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri, OpenNews, and Michael Bolden
Mini Perspectives: Chicago
June 2023
June 2023
Created in collaboration with Media Party
A lightning talk about how a community-led advocacy group engaged residents across the city, shaping the political agenda for a vital mayoral race.
It featured:
A lightning talk about how a community-led advocacy group engaged residents across the city, shaping the political agenda for a vital mayoral race.
It featured:
- Niketa Brar, co-founder and executive director of Chicago United for Equity. She works to grow the community-led policymaking movement in Chicago
Online
April 2023
April 2023
Created in collaboration with the News Product Alliance Summit
Two leaders of the reproductive rights movement in Latin America shared what it took to sustain a change movement over decades, and how to pass the baton to the next generation.
We were joined by:
Two leaders of the reproductive rights movement in Latin America shared what it took to sustain a change movement over decades, and how to pass the baton to the next generation.
We were joined by:
- Daniela Martins of the Women’s Equality Center, which strengthens the work of reproductive rights organizations in Latin America
- María Antonieta Alcalde of Ipas Central America and Mexico, which works with partners in the region to make abortion and contraceptives safe, legal and accessible
Los Angeles
September 2022
September 2022
Created alongside ONA 22
This event was held at East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American Theater, where we discussed the role of community-led support.
It featured:
- Jennifer Gutierrez of the Museum for Social Justice, who talked about how to reimagine the role of legacy institutions
- Leezel Tanglao of FYLPRO, who shared how their platform Tayo delivered life-saving COVID information to the older Filipino community
- traci kato-kiriyama of Vigilant Love, who talked about imagining new and better futures for artists in our cities
Supported by OpenNews
Team
- Ariel ZirulnickAriel Zirulnick is a journalism audience and product consultant. She is the co-founder of Perspectives.
- Robin KwongRobin Kwong is the product director for data services at Yahoo News.
- Andrew LosowskyAndrew Losowsky is the head of community product at Vox Media. He is the co-founder of Perspectives.
FAQ
- How do I bring Perspectives to my city or my event? How can I be a part of a Perspectives event?We'd love to work with you! Contact us via the form below.
Here are some of the questions we ask when we’re evaluating a pitch or designing an event:- What’s the vibe of the main event that we'll be programming alongside?
- Who is the event's target audience?
- What kind of lessons and experiences from beyond journalism could be useful to the target audience right now?
- What’s the format of the main event? In-person or online? What are the session formats? How much do we want to echo that, or do something in contrast to it?
- If we’re doing something in person, where can we take people that’s community-focused and outside of the main event space, while respecting the location and design of the main event?
- Are we going to try to make this a part of the event or are we going to make it an auxiliary event?
- Is there any budget? Are there any plans to get one? We pay our speakers and venues so any assistance with that is always welcome.
- Who can organize a Perspectives event?Currently we're overseeing all Perspectives events; in the future, we'll be releasing a free series of guidelines and principles for others to run events. If you'd like to work with us, contact us!
- How can I support Perspectives?We always need funders to help support our events. As organizers, we take no fee for our work; however, participants and venues need paying. If you're interested in supporting a future Perspectives event, contact us.
- What are the core principles of Perspectives?
- We always pay participants from outside journalism
- We strive to hold in-person events at community spaces
- We hold events that take place alongside existing industry events
Contact us
We'd love to make a Perspectives event with you.
Cover photo by Erik Westra
All other text and images are copyright the Perspectives Team unless stated