The Expanding Role of Culturally Specific and Alternative Newspapers

Culturally specific and alternative newspapers play an important role in providing news and information to communities which have traditionally been underserved or ignored by mainstream media, including community members whose first language isn’t English. And while all news outlets are struggling as they compete with online content and the advent of “fake news,” the role of culturally specific and alternative newspapers is more critical than ever.

Join us as we discuss the opportunities and challenges of today’s media market and role of culturally specific and alternative newspapers in the larger media landscape.

Doors open at 11:30. The program begins at 12:10.

Panel

Melanie Davis is the owner of Brilliant Media llc. the parent company that publishes El Hispanic News—the nation’s #1 bilingual monthly newspaper for seven consecutive years. Davis also owns Su Público, the only full-service multicultural ad agency serving the Pacific Northwest. With Su Público’s emphasis on cultural relevancy, companies that retain/hire Su Público are assured that their marketing/PR/advertising connects and relates to the robust, yet complex and diverse, demographics they're targeting. These include the Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, Black/African-American, Native American, LGBTQ, veteran's, women's, progressive, and conservative markets. Her hands-on approach helps ensure success with ad campaigns, events, social media outreach, and consulting.

Bernie Foster is the publisher of the Skanner News in Portland and Seattle. Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, he served five years in the U.S. Air Force, which included a tour of duty in Vietnam. After his service, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he took journalism classes at Western Washington University for two years. In 1975, Foster moved to Portland, Oregon where he founded The Skanner newspaper.  He decided his paper would not only take on hard issues affecting Blacks and other minorities, but would offer positive role models for youth by highlighting individual accomplishments-stories not often covered by the existing media at that time.

Foster is the Past President of the West Coast Black Publishers Association, and also served on the board of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Leaders Round Table, and the Northwest YMCA. Governor Neil Goldschmidt appointed Foster to the Oregon State Banking Board from 1991-94. He also serves as a member of the Oregon State Board of Pharmacy. He has won numerous national and state awards for excellence in journalism. He and his wife, Executive Editor Bobbie Dore Foster, were honored by the Oregon Historical Society as Oregon History Makers of 2013. His most recent award was the Victor Atiyeh Lifetime Achievement Award presented from the Volunteers of America in 2014.

Joanne Zuhl is the executive editor of Street Roots, Portland's nonprofit newspaper focusing on social, economic and environmental justice. Her career in journalism, as a reporter and editor, spans more than 25 years, the last 16 involved in the street paper movement as the editor of Street Roots. During her tenure, the newspaper has gone from being a monthly publication to an award-winning, respected weekly, reaching an estimated 20,000 readers each week in print and online. She served as a board member and vice chair of the International Network of Street Papers, and continues to be involved in the international street news service engaging similar publications around the globe.
 

Moderator

Michelle Cole is a partner and communications strategist for Gallatin Public Affairs. With more than 20 years of experience covering Northwest issues, governments, leaders and politics, her knowledge of the regional public policy landscape is unmatched. Prior to joining Gallatin, Michelle served as the Capitol bureau chief for The Oregonian where she reported on the Oregon Legislature, state government and politics. She earned Oregon’s top award for investigative reporting—the Bruce Baer Award—and her peers honored her work with several first-place awards from The Society of Professional Journalists. Michelle has a Master’s of Journalism degree from U.C. Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts degree in British/American Literature from Scripps College. She is a board member for Youth Rights & Justice, a nonprofit serving Oregon’s vulnerable children and families.