News for the People – Virtual Roundtable Webinar Discussion

Presented by the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts & Science, this virtual roundtable discussion will bring together historians and journalists to discuss the relationality of the practice of history and importance of the news in this age of misinformation.

Black journalists and historians have historically and continue to report stories outside of the mainstream news and curriculum. Mary Ann Shadd, Ida B.Wells , Una Marson, and Carrie Best fought to report news that was relevant to their communities and to make sure that Black perspectives were taken up in print. From the ‘grapevine’ to the Provincial Freeman, Black people across the diaspora created their own alternative press communicating a multiplicity of perspectives.

Panelists will speak for 10-15 minutes on how Black News Presses have informed their research; followed by a roundtable conversation that forges connections between historians and journalists. How do historians and journalists record events? Why are newspapers such important sources for historians? This virtual roundtable will take up these questions and think through history and news across the Black Diaspora.  

Sponsors 

• Department of History
• Critical Digital Humanities Initiative (CDHI)