Thread by @kat_alo

A Detroit girl through and through. @Cande313’s pronouns are “she, her and Detroiter.” Speaking about the damage done to communities when we parachute in and get the story wrong- repping @media_outlier at #sfj19

When there is a front page story about a new hotel but not on the incredibly high rates of black babies dying in Detroit, @MGuzman_Detroit says, “That’s people not doing their job.”

Consensus on the panel: “in Detroit, ‘come back’ is a dirty word.” @Cande313 says if you’re going to report on #Detroit you should take a history lesson first.

Often, important issues are *covered* but not from the perspective of the people actually affected by the issue, says @MGuzman_Detroit that’s alienating and breeds distrust.

Don’t just ask the activists, says @ron_fournier get out your notebook and go talk to people that have experienced the issue

Drawing on her (unpaid) experience as her block club president, @Cande313 says there are certainly spaces where Detroiters are already talking about whatever issue you’re tryna cover. Become familiar with those spaces, listen to those conversations.

If you aren’t thinking about how to get your stories across the digital divide, esp in cities like Detroit with low rates of internet access, you’re leaving a huge audience behind, says @Cande313 how can we talk about engagement when we don’t even have access?

“I have always known that black women could hold power.” @Cande313 talks about the blessings of living in a majority black city, where she never had to look far for a role model.

And NOW we’re talking #diversity and representation and compensating freelancers and staff FAIRLY. Because every journalism panel should wrap up that way. Diversity is not an accessory. It isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s essential.

Big shoutout to @Cande313 for teaching me how to Twitter.