on Behalf of: St. Louis Activist Hub
HOST SITE:
Regional Arts Commission
6128 Delmar
Saint Louis, MO
9am- 4pm
RSVP
9am- 4pm
RSVP
Reporting staff at traditional media outlets have been shrinking. Extreme, absurd, and factually incorrect political positions are regularly promoted by the media because sensationalism works well for the "news as entertainment" business model. Meanwhile, progressive organizations struggle to have their perspectives given adequate time in the media, and intelligent discourse is hard to find.
These facts combined with the dire p...olitical outlook in Missouri for 2011 (with an "unapologetic birther" recently elected as Majority Leader of a Republican caucus that is only a couple votes away from a veto-proof majority) mean that progressives need to get proactive making sure that people have access to quality news and analysis. All of the tools are at our fingertips: we just need to get organized about using them.
This one-day workshop on Online Organizing and Community Building will explain the tools of citizen journalism, discuss how these tools are needed in our current political environment, and help to build a community of caring, thoughtful people who can work together to make sure that St. Louisans have access to quality information. It will also kick off a new project that will help to promote quality journalism from progressives in the St. Louis area.
The basic plan for the workshop (at the wonderful event space of the Regional Arts Commission on the Delmar Loop) is as follows:
9:00 AM Welcome and Introductions
9:30 - 10:30 Panel Discussion of the Current State of Missouri Politics (including representatives from the Educators Association and Missouri Jobs with Justice)
10:30 -11:00 Discussion of the Current State of the Media (and its many flaws) (with Sylvester Brown!)
11:00-11:30 Introduction to the Basics of Online Organizing and Community Building
11:30-12:30 Workshop Session A
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 Workshop Session B
2:30 - 3:30 Workshop Session C
3:30-4 Wrap-up and follow-up plans
Workshops will include: blogging 101, social networking, covering friendly events, covering unfriendly events, working with the traditional media, videography, and online community-building. We will also try to leave open space during the last workshop session for people to suggest and even lead their own workshops.
We have an opportunity to change the conversation for the better: let's make sure we use it!
Assistance for this event was generously provided by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, and St. Louis Jobs with Justice.
Cost is Free but you do need to RSVP! RSVP by clicking "Attending" or by sending an email to washupeacecoalition@gmail.
