Plus, consider supporting our ongoing microfundraiser to support those who need scholarships to participate
Beginning Monday, March 3, Atlanta-based independent media outlet, Mainline, will host recurring movement media training sessions for both community organizers and aspiring journalists/media workers. Registration is officially open!
To register, visit our Patreon page and select the subscription tier of your choice. This series is being offered on a sliding scale subscription basis at $10, $15, and $20 a month. Participants can select whichever amount they can afford. This can be adjusted or canceled at any time. (There is also a scholarship option available.)
The training series curriculum has been developed by the Mainline team, along with other movement journalists and cultural organizers who will also serve as guest speakers throughout the series.
This series is grounded in abolition and decolonization. This is, therefore, not your typical westernized media education series. Come prepared to learn as well as unlearn what you’ve been taught through mainstream media and what is considered “normal” and “professional.”
We have begun to book guest speakers for this six-months series. Below are our March speakers; we will announce each month’s speakers as we go!
In March, we will cover:
- Journalism and mass communications basic history with Aja Arnold, publisher and founder of Mainline
- Abolitionist press principles and history with Da’Shaun Harrison of Scalawag
- Media reparations, with special guest Alicia Bell of Media 2070
- Going beyond “objectivity,” featuring movement journalist and Interrupting Criminalization fellow Lewis Raven Wallace
The rest of the series will cover:
- How to build an effective media strategy
- Building narrative power / media as organizing
- Communications law and ethics
- Media writing 101
- Citizen, gonzo, and social media journalism
- Interview training and building trust with sources
- Journalists’ safety and KYR training
- How to write press releases / how to pitch stories
- And more!
All training sessions will be virtual. Participants will be organized into two groups: journalists and organizers. In March, sessions will host both groups together during training. From April until July, the sessions will be split between the two groups.
Then, the groups will come back together in trainings to begin working together through interactive exercises and workshops. The goal is to build solidarity between organizers and journalists, as well as help people develop skills and confidence in working in the media.
Media training schedules
(Note: This schedule is subject to change if it best serves participants! All sessions will be recorded and uploaded for participants to have.)
The schedule for the journalist group is:
- Monday, March 3, 4pm ET*
- Monday, March 10, 4pm ET*
- Monday, March 17, 4pm ET*
- Monday, March 31, 4pm ET*
- Monday, April 7, 6pm ET
- Monday, April 21, 6pm ET
- Monday, May 5, 6pm ET
- Monday, May 19, 6pm ET
- Monday, June 2, 6pm ET
- Monday, June 16, 6pm ET
- Monday, June 30, 6pm ET
- Monday, July 7, 4pm ET*
- Monday, July 21, 4pm ET*
- Monday, August 4, 4pm ET*
- Monday, August 18, 4pm ET*
- Monday, September 1, 4pm ET*
* indicates joint sessions with organizers
The schedule for the organizer group is:
- Monday, March 3, 4pm ET*
- Monday, March 10, 4pm ET*
- Monday, March 17, 4pm ET*
- Monday, March 31, 4pm ET*
- Monday, April 7, 4pm ET
- Monday, April 21, 4pm ET
- Monday, May 5, 4pm ET
- Monday, May 19, 4pm ET
- Monday, June 2, 4pm ET
- Monday, June 16, 4pm ET
- Monday, June 30, 4pm ET
- Monday, July 7, 4pm ET*
- Monday, July 21, 4pm ET*
- Monday, August 4, 4pm ET*
- Monday, August 18, 4pm ET*
- Monday, September 1, 4pm ET*
* indicates joint sessions with journalists
Additional resources and worksheets will be uploaded on the Patreon. These resources can also be downloaded by participants.
We will also organize an email list serv and a separate community server (on Element) for participants, so they can build community and trust with each other throughout the year.
Some trainers will be available for 1:1 or more intimate workshops. We also encourage participants to apply what they’re learning in the series to real-time events as they’re occurring. Surely, this year will bring us things to respond to rapidly; and we want the community we are forming to put skills into practice and work together on live media strategies.
Have a question? Send an email to the series’ lead organizer, Aja Arnold, at [email protected].
We’re looking forward to building and learning with you.
— The Mainline Team
