Fifteen Philadelphia-based journalists were invited to spend a day with 30 residents from the core communities impacted by gun violence in the city, most of whom had lost several loved ones.
The gathering was convened by The Initiative for Better Gun Violence Reporting in a first step toward informing a new set of best practices for journalists covering the issue and exploring the impact of news coverage on levels of violence.
Conversations were intended to get to know each other better and create opportunities to ask questions and share ideas for how gun violence coverage could best serve the community — and to make lasting connections for future engagement.
The program was hosted by Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, founder and executive director of Mothers in Charge, a Philadelphia-based national organization focused on violence prevention, education and intervention to support youths, young adults, families and communities affected by violence.
Dr. H. Jean Wright, director of behavioral health and justice-related services in the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, led the program with a discussion of trauma related to gun violence and then spent the day working with individuals who had more questions.
Derrick Cain, the community engagement editor at Resolve Philadelphia, introduced his organization which develops and advances journalism built on equity, collaboration and the elevation of community voices and solutions.
Next, Professors Jennifer Midberry and Jason Peifer from The Media School at Indiana University Bloomington led a team of facilitators who led focus group discussions.
Together with community partners, this research team will share their findings at The Better Gun Violence Reporting Summit on Community Gun Violence, a journalism conference which will take place on November 8 at WHYY in Philadelphia.
Finally, every journalist was briefly paired with every participating community member during a series of 15 speed-networking meetings to wrap up the day. Shana Salley-MacMillan of Brandywine Strategies organized and led this segment.
The event was organized in partnership with Mothers in Charge, Resolve Philadelphia and the Coalition of Trauma Centers for Firearm Injury Prevention. Funding was provided by the City of Philadelphia Office of Violence Prevention. The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists brought many of the participating reporters to the table.
Danielle Blanco of Mothers in Charge led a team of event workers who provided critical services throughout the day, including Rysheda Elliott, Thomas Roach, Kempis Songster and Valerie Todd.
The Initiative is extremely grateful for the efforts of IBGVR Philadelphia operations coordinator Alison Burdo and Kate Black, associate director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University, both of whom were also in attendance.
IBGVR director Jim MacMillan is a residential fellow with the Reynolds Journalism Institute at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
His work has been advised by Temple trauma surgeon and public health researcher Dr. Jessica Beard and and trauma outreach coordinator Scott Charles, who also helped reserve the venue.
We gathered at the Student Faculty Center on the Temple Health Sciences Campus in North Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the event Sunday, asking: Why is gun violence in Philly ‘exploding’ when solutions exist?
Journalist Chantale Belefanti meets with community participants. Belefanti recently reported in a similar event at the Germantown InfoHub for The Philadelphia Tribune.
Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight of Mothers in Charge introduces Dr. H. Jean Wright from the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services
Manuel Smith discusses journalism with community participants. Smith is the president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists and northeast bureau assignment editor for NBC News.
Philadelphia Magazine columnist Ernest Owens meets with community representatives.
Mensah Dean, who covers crime, violence and corruption for The Philadelphia Inquirer, meets with community representatives.
WHYY reporter Ximena Conde discusses news coverage with community representatives.
Abraham Gutman, a member of The Philadelphia Inquirer’s editorial board, meets with community representatives.
Dr. H. Jean Wright, director of behavioral health and justice-related services in the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, led the program with a discussion of trauma related to gun violence and then spent the day working with individuals who had more questions.
Vincent Thompson of WURD Radio discusses gun violence coverage with with community representatives.
Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight speaks with Chris Malo, who manages PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com.
Dr. H. Jean Wright, director of behavioral health and justice-related services in the city’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services, led the program with a discussion of trauma related to gun violence.
WHYY reporter Aaron Moselle meets with community representatives.
Community representatives share their thoughts with journalists in attendance.
Martin Pratt of Your Black News meets with community representatives.
Community representatives share their thoughts with journalists in attendance.
Community representatives share their thoughts with journalists in attendance.
Philadelphia Inquirer political writer Chris Brennan meets with community representatives.
Dr. H. Jean Wright leads the program with a discussion of trauma related to gun violence.
Freelance journalist Bobbi Booker meets with community representatives.
Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight introduces Shana Salley-MacMillan of Brandywine Strategies, who organized and led the speed-networking segment of the event.
Chris Malo, who manages PhiladelphiaNeighborhoods.com, meets with community members.
Community representatives share their thoughts with journalists in attendance.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the event Sunday, asking: Why is gun violence in Philly ‘exploding’ when solutions exist?