On November 17th, The Institute of Popular Education of Southern California (IDEPSCA), The Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) and Center for Media Justice (CMJ) hosted the First Annual Los Angeles Media Justice Academy in Los Angeles, California. The all day bilingual event (conducted in Spanish and English) was a unique convening that brought together 40 social justice organizers and activists from primarily communities of color to map out local and national media landscape as well as build their mobile media and communications leadership skills. Some of the LA based groups in attendance included, The Labor Strategy Center/Bus Riders Union, Restaurant Opportunities United – LA, Clean Carwashers Campaign, Californians for Justice, Los Angeles Dream Team and Message Media Ed – School of Black Leadership in the Digital Age.
The training featured a spokesperson training led by CMJ’s Alison Roh Park, a hands on mobile device digital storytelling workshop by IDEPSCA’s Pedro Joel and a 99% media justice personal mapping exercise led by CMJ’s Betty Yu.
The last half of the day featured a panel of media justice advocates who talked about the most current media policy fights. Edyael Casaperalta of Center for Rural Strategies, Marlom Portillo of IDEPSCA, and Betty Yu of CMJ talked about rural broadband, universal access, wireless rights, net neutrality and connected them to social change fights in the labor, immigrant rights, healthcare, environmental, housing and criminal justice movements.
Speaking with the media, especially on camera or radio, can be a stressful experience even for the veteran spokesperson. It doesnʼt have to be! This compilation of spokesperson tips is designed to help you prepare, execute, and follow up on an interview with the media and to look and feel your best throughout the process. Remember, you are the expert!
