Prison Journalism Project is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in April 2020 to train incarcerated writers to be journalists and publish their stories.[1][2] Prison Journalism Project provides correspondence-based lessons on the tools of journalism to incarcerated writers through its PJP J-School program, and it publishes their stories on its online magazine.[3]
| Formation | April 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
|
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Purpose |
|
| Website | prisonjournalismproject |
Prison Journalism Project contributes to the movement for prison reform through two programs: PJP J-School and an editorial publishing arm. It recruits, trains and pays incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers, then publishes their work on their own online magazine and training newspaper as well as in publications around the country[4] to help cultivate freedom of the press behind the walls as it builds a network of prison correspondents.[5]
One of its contributing writers, Steve Brooks, who is incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison became the first incarcerated writer to win an individual award in the print category of Society of Professional Journalist's Northern California Chapter's 2020 Excellence in Journalism Award for two opinion essays published on Prison Journalism Project.[6]
Background
editPrison Journalism Project was founded in 2020 by Yukari Iwatani Kane and Shaheen Pasha, who were teaching journalism at San Quentin State Prison and Hampshire County Jail in Massachusetts.[7][1][8]
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Kane and Pasha saw how little information was coming out of prisons about situations inside, so they started a publication on Medium[9] in April 2020 to publish experiences and dispatches about the coronavirus’ impact on incarceration.[10]
Prison Journalism Project also publishes PJPxInside, a print publication distributed to the outlet's writers in prisons and jails across the United States. The pilot edition won an Award of Excellence from the Society of News Design in March 2022.[11] In September 2022, PJPxInside received the Community Champion Award in the small newsroom division from the Institute of Nonprofit News.[12]
In December 2020, it became a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News.[13] In April 2021, it partnered with the Society of Professional Journalists to create the first national virtual incarcerated chapter.[14] In July 2021, Crime Story Media began republishing stories from the Prison Journalism Project website.[15] Prison Journalism Project writers have also been published by The Washington Post.[16]
The organization is funded by individual donations and grants from foundations and individuals.[17] In February 2022, The Just Trust named Prison Journalism Project as one of its inaugural grantees. It was also awarded a grant by FWD.us.[18]
Notes
edit- ^ a b "How a project is training incarcerated people to become journalists". Poynter. 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ "Incarcerated People At CA Prisons Vaccinated At Higher Rate Than Staff". www.cbsnews.com. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
- ^ "About Prison Journalism Project". Prison Journalism Project. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ Scott, Sophia (2021-09-05). "Journalism Behind Bars: An Interview with Yukari Kane". Harvard Political Review. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ Healy, Amber (17 June 2021). "466 Prison Journalism Project helps inmates share their stories". itsalljournalism.com. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "SPJ NorCal Honors 2020 Excellence in Journalism Award Winners « SPJ NorCal". Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ Carlisle, Grace (2020-03-04). "Professor Brings Prison Journalism Project, New Perspective To Penn State". Onward State. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "The Criminal Justice Insider Podcast with Babz Rawls Ivy & Jeff Grant, Prison Journalism Project, Fri., Nov. 20, 2020 | White Collar Support Group". Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ PJP (2020-07-22). "BIG NEWS! Moved to a New & Improved Website!". Medium. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "Reveal Digital's Voices from the Inside, featuring Yukari Iwatani Keen and Shaheen Pasha". Artstor. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "Best of Print News Design Results – Society for News Design". Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ "Nonprofit News Awards – Institute for Nonprofit News". Retrieved 2022-10-14.
- ^ "Prison Journalism Project". Find Your News. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ SPJ. "SPJ announces partnership with Prison Journalism Project". www.spj.org. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ O'Bannon, Vincent (27 July 2021). "Prison Journalism Project: From Abuser to Advocate". Crime Story. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ "Opinion | A San Quentin covid-19 survivor reflects and looks forward". Washington Post. 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
- ^ "Just Trust, Just Trust for Action award grants totaling $36.3 million".
- ^ "San Quentin newspaper supporter lands $400,000 grant". The Mercury News. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-09-01.