Mainline’s Movement Media Trainings are launching on March 3!
Support our ongoing micro-fundraiser to support those who need scholarships to participate
Beginning Monday, March 3, Mainline will host recurring movement media training sessions for both community organizers and aspiring journalists/media workers. We are currently fundraising for 20 participants who require a scholarship—please donate if you can! We want this series to be accessible for those who don’t have traditional access to higher education, media careers, and/or media appearance opportunities.
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.
Guest speakers in March include Interrupting Criminalization fellow and longtime journalist Lewis Raven Wallace and Media 2070 co-founder and media reparations visionary Alicia Bell.
We will be adding more speakers throughout the series, which will run through September 1.
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.”
To join, complete this input survey. We will add your email to the participants’ list and you will be notified when official registration opens on March 1.
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. Thai can be adjusted or canceled at any time.
This series will cover a range of topics, including but not limited to:
Media reparations, with special guest Alicia Bell of Media 2070
Going beyond “objectivity,” featuring movement journalist and Interrupting Criminalization fellow Lewis Raven Wallace
Abolitionist press principles and history
Journalism and mass communications basic history
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
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
This schedule was curated based on the input survey responses so far. All sessions will be recorded for those who can’t attend for any reason.
Additional resources and worksheets will be uploaded on the Patreon. These resources can be downloaded by participants.
We will also organize an email list serv and a separate Signal chat for participants, so they can build community and trust with each other throughout the year.
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 aja@mainlinezine.com.
Please spread the word! We’re looking forward to building and learning with you.
— The Mainline Team