Inspired by PEN America’s recent report on the state of local news in the United States, and a case study written by Martina Guzmán, join the ACS Michigan Chapter and PEN America for a conversation about the media ecosystem in Detroit and exploring the relationship between local news, community, and race.

Local news is in a state of crisis. For over a decade, there has been a steady succession of local outlets closing down, reporters being laid off, production schedules cut, and resources tightened. As a result, thousands of communities across the country have less access to critical information on governance, elections, education, health, and numerous issues specific to their cities, towns, and neighborhoods. This crisis both exacerbates and is exacerbated by systemic inequities in the U.S. media landscape. Many of the communities that have traditionally been underserved by local media are those most affected by its decline. Just 2 percent of newspaper publishers are black. And 77 percent of all newsroom employees are non-Hispanic white (compared with 65 percent of all U.S. workers), and 61 percent are men (compared with 53 percent of all U.S. workers).

The event will feature an opening keynote by Martina Guzmán, and will be followed by a conversation with local journalists, including Sarah Alvarez and Curt Guyette.

Featuring:

Sarah Alvarez, Founder & Director, Outlier Media
Curt Guyette, Editor At Large, The ACLU of Michigan
Martina Guzmán, Damon J. Keith Race and Justice Journalism Fellow, Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, Wayne State University

The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided.

Parking details can be found here, though be prepared to pay by credit card, for the following rates: Lot 32 is $9.50 and Structure 1 is $8.50.

As the nation’s leading progressive legal organization, ACS is committed to ensuring that all aspects of our events are accessible and enjoyable for all. If you require any accommodations, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .