In episode 6, we’re diving into an area that is both incredibly timely and critically important: the evolving landscape of journalism and its role in representing the diverse voices that make up the fabric of our society. Tia Oso, Principal at the ZEAL Cooperative, spoke to three publishers dedicated to disrupting the flat and authoritative (re: loud and wrong) voice of mainstream media.

Damaso Reyes is the Executive Editor of the NY Amsterdam News, a Black-owned newspaper founded in 1909 to provide a “counterweight to mainstream news,” offering “a more holistic perspective.” He joined the paper to reflect his experiences growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s. “Were there drugs? Yes. Was there violence? Yes. But it was an exception, not the rule.”

This is the core of mainstream media harm: selective storytelling that distorts reality. MaiDamasom outlets have historically portrayed Black and Brown communities as defined by their struggles, instead of reflecting the rich complexity of their lives. As Damaso points out, a lack of diverse, quality information often leads to a situation where people are “at the whim of whoever can do the best job of manipulating you.”

This week, we’re excited to share Episode 5, where we delve into amplifying marginalized perspectives in journalism. As we approach the final episode of Season 1, now is the perfect time to catch up on all the insightful conversations from this season. You can find us on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform!

In this episode, we’re joined by two remarkable guests who are redefining the media landscape: Uyiosa Elegon, the Marketing and Development Director at Shift Press, and Giannina Ong, the Editor-in-Chief of Mochi Magazine. Both are passionate advocates for amplifying voices that are often silenced, and lead publications that are correcting narratives around youth and Asian American communities.

Uyiosa Elegon is a trailblazer in Houston’s media scene, set on creating a robust youth media ecosystem. “Things are not pulled into the mainstream of dialogue unless it really, really bothers adults,” he notes. Uyoisa points out a “starvation” among youth and organizers for more storytelling opportunities that platform and respect young voices, making them vulnerable to adult-centric narratives that detract from youth power-building.

For the fourth episode of Season 1 of Infinite Patterns, we have the privilege of speaking with DeAnna Tisdale Johnson, the publisher of the Jackson Advocate. This week, she and Ty White, principal at ZEAL Cooperative and host of the podcast, dove into one of local journalism’s primary charges - addressing social determinants of health.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the wide range of conditions and environments in which people are born, live, work, and age that influence an individual's health outcomes. SDOHs include economic stability, education performance, community engagement, social support, healthcare availability, the physical environment, transportation and food accessibility, and more.