How do we lift up first-person worker stories through our media platforms? and … Watchdogs, guide dogs, or no dogs?

Who was present?

• Steve Dubb, NPQ
• Jody Lawrence-Turner, Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism

How do we lift up first-person worker stories through our media platforms?

• Example: The Bulletin (Bend, OR)
• Faces of Homelessness series: produced first-person stories for a year on the topic every two weeks.  About 800 words. Based on standard interview questions.
• Housed all articles on a common webpage.
• Got good responses, and community engagement. Succeeded at disrupting stereotypes and changed public perceptions.
• Done this on other topics: housing affordability (What defines affordability? Pair with personal stories of difficulties of affording housing). 

Options for worker stories
• Could have a regional focus.

• Could have topical focus (e.g., teachers, restaurant workers, warehouse workers)

Watchdog, guide dog, or no dog?

• Watchdog: accountability
• Guidedog solutions journalism
• No dog: no gatekeepers

Question: Who is allowed to be a guide dog or watchdog?

Response: “No gatekeepers” means letting in those excluded by the media. Example-Detroit: water shutoffs. Considered a “non-story” by mainstream media. Another organization (Outlier) came along. Not only wrote about it but set up a hotline.  Incorporate the voices of people (people of color, low-income) whose stories are not in the media. Address the class and race bias in the media. 

All the dogs can play together. Guide dog/watchdog is not an either-or choice.