Through this initiative, we're exploring connections between democracy, journalism, and an informed citizenry. Because when citizens know their towns and their neighbors better, communities can thrive.
Humanities and the Future of Journalism in Rural Alabama is part of a national initiative exploring essential roles played by the humanities and journalism in creating an informed citizenry and, in turn, a healthy democracy.
Here in Alabama, communities of all sizes and types are participating in virtual workshops, book discussions, town hall meetings, and more. The program’s focus on rural Alabama serves to raise questions that apply to our state in general:
In pursuit of answers, AHA has hosted a “What Comes to Light” town hall series, and has engaged a wide range of Alabama journalists: John Archibald, Joey Bunch, Maura Casey, Anthony Cook, Fred Fluker, Christopher Harress, Harold Jackson, Garrett Lane, Anna Clare Vollers, Kyle Whitmire, and more.
AHA has also presented “Telling Our Stories,” a rural journalism workshop, and produced a Democracy and the Informed Citizen podcast highlighting citizen-produced newspapers that offer a new path forward for building community, combating disinformation, and sustaining our democracy.
Funding for this multiyear initiative comes from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and is administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Project partners include PACERS Rural Community News Network; Auburn University School of Communication & Journalism; University of Alabama College of Communication & Information Sciences; Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities; Alabama A&M’s Electronic Media Communications; and David Mathews Center for Civic Life.
New AHA podcast series explores the future of journalism in rural Alabama, and highlights a growing number of citizen-produced newspapers that offer a new path forward — for building community, combating disinformation, and sustaining our democracy.
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“Telling Our Stories” featured a keynote address by Maura Casey, a former member of four newspaper editorial boards, including at The New York Times. The event also recognized the accomplishments of four new rural newspapers across Alabama.
Watch 'Telling Our Stories'