Citizen journalism Institute

The institute  aims to fuse environmental health and storytelling techniques in order to create capacity to advocate on behalf of environmental justice communities. The grant will allow us to develop a community journalism curriculum and digital platform we call Media Matter.  Through this program, participants will have the opportunity to share their own environmental justice stories with wider audiences. We plan on implementing this project within communities who have been historically disadvantaged by environmental burdens, including communities of color and low-wealth communities. Enrollees in the project will be trained in how to use various media in order to tell their stories in relation to their environments (natural, ecological, social) and experiences.

Using photojournalism, digital storytelling, videography, and more, participants will be able to communicate with various stakeholders and policymakers around the issues that they determine to matter in relation to their health and overall well-being. In contrast to traditional academic research, this will allow for the dissemination of findings to be distributed through the voices of the citizens. This project will have broader implications towards health equity, environmental justice, and the reduction of health disparities. Additionally, this project will increase media literacy and promote self-advocacy through journalism.