Today is all about breaks.
This week, in anticipation of summer vacation, we’re taking a break from our regular content to bring you some of the Indiegraf staff’s favourite reads from indie publishers. Whether you read it on the beach or stuck in the office, we hope you enjoy this work from some of our amazing peers.
The Markup consistently knocks ambitious, interactive journalism projects out of the park. This tool, called Split Screen, is my fav. It allows you to compare the Facebook feeds of seemingly opposing psychographic audiences. Like, for example, what Biden and Trump supporters saw on the days leading up to the election. Or what millennials and boomers see in real time. It’s brilliant.
-Amy Van Es, audience strategist
Living through COVID-19 continues to be horrific, but the way we’ve seen communities come together to take care of each other is really moving. Fatima Syed honours those who have passed and talks to real members of the community, highlighting organizations and people watching out for their city — all while holding power to account.
-Rachel Chen, audience strategist
The news that the remains of 215 children were found at a residential school in Kamloops made headlines worldwide. As a person who has little in common with the victims and the family, it would be difficult to fully understand what they are going through. But Helen Knott’s words, as described to IndigiNews reporter Kelsie Kilawna, reflected how this impacted the community and deeply touched my heart.
-Kay Watanabe, developer
As a former labour reporter, I’m always eager to read more news digging into workplace conditions. Since it launched earlier this year, The Breach has been breaking labour news. I thought this piece about Tim Hortons’ parent company fighting attempts to ensure a living wage for workers was very illuminating.
-H.G. Watson, marketing manager
Many people wonder what the land back movement really means. Briarpatch’s Sept./Oct. 2020 Land Back issue dives head first into that question. In it, you’ll learn how on-the-ground movements use tools like rent programs, land trusts and permits to assert inherent rights to the land. You’ll learn how Indigenous hunters who identify as women, and sex workers, are fundamental to the movement. You’ll hear how Molly Swain and Chelsea Vowel of the podcast Métis in Space made their land back vision a reality, and lots more. It’s educational, imaginative storytelling at its finest.
-Lauren Kaljur, Indie Publisher contributor
Newfoundland and Labrador is a beautiful province. In 2019, I drove over 1,500 kilometres in five days, traveling from St. John’s to Deer Lake and getting to know the locals in the small towns in between. But there are many untold stories on the island, and this investigative piece by The Independent into an online troll was captivating. For years, an anonymous Twitter account was harassing the citizens of Newfoundland. Then The Independent’s Drew Brown revealed who was behind the mask.
-Shelby Blackley, audience strategist
In the news
- Here’s what Ken Doctor has learned about launching a local news company
- The Crusader, a legendary Chicago weekly, led the way when COVID-19 struck its South Side community
We need to complicate the “save local news” mantra
Opportunities
- The Google News Initiative in partnership with LION Publishers Startup Bootcamp is accepting applications.
And one more thing…
- Here are seven ways non-Indigenous people can support grieving communities in wake of another devastating discovery— 751 more unmarked graves at a former Saskatchewan residential school.
