The Richmond community--including community organizations, media groups, City offices and neighborhood councils--have been working together to make sure local and regional multimedia outlets are aware of the positive news in Richmond--and accountable to the community by bringing these stories to the forefront. Richmond Pulse has been right there, and consistently comes through for the community. For example, Richmond Pulse reporters have partnered with Richmond Community Foundation to document events the foundation has coordinated through its Community Action Teams-such as the César Chávez Community Garden Day and the Dr. M.L.K., Jr. Day March for Peace.
Launched in the fall of 2010, Richmond Pulse trains young Richmond residents, ages 14 to 24, as multimedia journalists, with the guidance and supervision of a small, dedicated team of NAM professional reporters and editors. The Richmond Pulse project is one of half a dozen hyperlocal media outlets in California that are operated and funded by NAM, a national collaboration of 2000 ethnic media organizations.
Richmond Pulse aims to nurture homegrown, community journalists to be the eyes and ears of Richmond: bringing to light the stories of marginalized residents whose perspectives have been left out of mainstream media and/or policy level discourse. The focus of Richmond Pulse reporting is health in its broadest sense, and the interconnectedness of people and place. While youth and young adults are the reporters, their stories are intended for a broad audience, and recognize and honor the perspectives of people from diverse walks of life.
"Extending the voice of the youth is number one," said Richmond resident William Haynes, age 17. Haynes has been active as a Richmond Pulse reporter for the last five months, and recently reported the story "Time Capsules of Kennedy High" with team members Jose Esquivel and Tania Pulido. "We work to spread information as a key media outlet," Haynes continued, "Richmond is often portrayed negatively...We want to bring out the positive stories, and tell people what's good about Richmond."
Jacob Simas, Youth-Led Media Project Manager and Associate Producer for New America Media, said that while ethnic media continues to play a critical and major role in informing the public, it should also establish stronger relationships with mainstream media and vice versa. "Those voices should be part of the public discourse," he stated. "Inclusion would only enrich the mainstream media," said Simas.
Iraida Santillan, 16, heard about Richmond Pulse from Gabino Arredondo, Health and Wellness Outreach Coordinator at the City of Richmond, and was excited about "seeing things from different points of view." She said she believes Richmond Pulse is special because not many cities have youth producing news media and covering community events.
The City has been very welcoming and supportive of the young journalists and Richmond Pulse. Richmond Pulse Project Coordinator and Multimedia Editor Malcolm Marshall asserted: "The city government has given me new hope in elected officials, and many of Richmond's residents are warm, friendly and eager to participate in anything that will help the city move forward."
Richmond Pulse's reporting can be described as insightful, current, block-level-hyper-local and unapologetically personal. The young reporters do not simply regurgitate "the facts." Instead, with the help of their NAM mentors--they get to the heart of each story, making the news accessible, engaging and relatable for a broad and diverse audience.
Through solid research and interviews--brought to life in thoughtful combinations of words, images and sounds-the stories can electrify the air and energize the streets. They incite dialogue and generate liminal spaces in which to explore and test solutions to community issues-rather than the outdated repeated pounding of so-called "urban problems." "While some people focus on the bad side, I see ways to make things better," said Santillan, who has lived in Richmond all her life.
As a community, Richmond must support, recognize and encourage these young people for stepping up and documenting the stories and issues in Richmond. "[The young reporters] need to be celebrated!" exclaimed Marshall.
"Richmond Pulse has given me an opportunity to express myself," added Haynes, who first learned of the training from the RYSE Center, where he has served as an organizer. This kind of personal perspective makes outlets like Richmond Pulse both rare and critically-important.
And this raises an interesting point. Attempting to define what constitutes "good" journalism can be contentious and is inherently multilayered. Simas explained: "For me 'good' journalism is first and foremost 'honest' journalism, which is a lot different than being 'neutral.'" He contends that community journalists share in the responsibility of promoting change in the communities they cover. Good journalism must allow people to have "an honest say" for themselves.
Simas highlighted a Richmond Pulse story written by Nancy Ybarra entitled: "Should I Carry a Gun Too, for Protection?" He acknowledged that while the headline might turn heads or anger some readers, the question is really an important window into the life and reality of someone who we may otherwise never hear from. These kinds of stories force us as multimedia consumers and producers to go deeper into our own consciousness to consider multiple viewpoints. Simas continued, "I think that's important not only for the people telling the stories, but for decision makers who need to be informed."
The community must not patronize or underestimate these young reporters. They are creative, dedicated and talented. They have unique perspective and dig deep to tell each story. "Working with the young people is my favorite part of this job," said Marshall. "They are bright and looking for opportunities to sink their teeth into."
The handful of hard-working young reporters participates in regular workshop meetings twice a month, as well as ad hoc work sessions and reporting activities that happen more often. While not paid to attend the training, reporters are paid for their completed stories--and receive recognition when the work is published. The team is led and facilitated by Marshall, who related that it is heartening to see the young reporters excited about the storytelling and engaging their abilities. "Leading this program has been an opportunity for me to grow as a teacher," he remarked. "It has reminded me how important it is to challenge young people and just ask them to be great."
Part of the power of the training model is that reporters are mentored and gain experience in many aspects and process phases of multimedia reporting. Santillan recounted that her favorite project was covering the Richmond PAL Youth Boxing program. She interviewed the coach, noting how his experiences were similar and different from her own. "We learned skills to talk to people," she explained. Santillan also filmed the video footage for the story, and then worked with a NAM staff member to edit the material.
Moreover, Santillan stated that participating in Richmond Pulse affords youth a chance to do something positive, while simultaneously being distracted from potentially unhealthy or unsafe activities. The training contributes to college readiness and there are networking opportunities that could lead to jobs or open new doors. "[The NAM mentors] will work with you one-on-one whenever they can," she noted. Haynes affirmed: "I have really enjoyed learning new skills; the experience has been very good."
Richmond Pulse builds a diverse, collaborative team that fosters opportunities for shared learning experiences between young people and adult allies. "Richmond Pulse is a different voice: it's not just the usual," Santillan explained. "We try to get the perspectives of many people--old and young--to know what's really going on."
Marshall asserted: "We need to welcome [youth] to the table and learn from them. We need more intergenerational discussions in the mainstream."
There is a strong vision to ensure that youth-generated media in Richmond can be sustained. So, what will it take? What does this look like? Marshall relayed that the initiative will require continued funding, and will need to eventually find its own home. (Currently, the group meets at City Hall.) Richmond Pulse also seeks to build a computer lab to be a "21st century" news outlet.
Most important, however, is the need to recruit and train a steady stream of young people who are interested in writing, new media and in their city. Marshall explained that many of the initial cohort of media makers are now moving on to school or other adventures. A new team of committed, motivated young people is sought to blaze new paths. The adults are there to scaffold and teach, but "the young people need to drive this," said Marshall.
Richmond is a vibrant, dynamic and "can-do" city, and Richmond Pulse is an important piece of this beautiful woven fabric. "I believe Richmond is on the verge of greatness," said Marshall. "It's exciting to be a part of it."
"Even though some people have negative views of Richmond, I don't see it as being bad," Santillan agreed. "It is my neighborhood, and I'm proud to be from here."
Richmond Pulse seeks complex truths, and gives real people a voice and the chance to build community. As a mechanism for community change, the potential power of such vehicles for communication and engagement is unmatched.
And this is the heart beat of the city. William Haynes had the last word: "People say the newspaper industry is declining-and maybe it is-but Richmond Pulse is different. It is a great opportunity to connect with people."
By April Suwalsky
August 12, 2011
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