Oakland Voices

The Oakland Tribune has a new community project that teaches West Oakland residents to write stories about their neighborhoods. The program is called "Oakland Voices." Its goal is to empower West Oakland residents with skills and tools to go into their neighborhoods and report on issues, people, and ideas they think are important. It will be based at the The West Oakland Public Library's Community Media Access Center.

Journalism outfits have been forced to scramble to make themselves relevant in the "media 2.0" universe. Newspapers are today trudging through downsizing and making tough decisions about content delivery strategies. As modern as these concerns are, journalism still depends on the fundamental skills and talents it has always celebrated - investigative curiosity, storytelling, service to public. The fundamentals of good reporting - the pillars of our profession - are indelible. The Oakland Voices project aims to pass on some of those fundamental skills to West Oakland community members in order to both advance the profession through people closest to the stories and experiences The Oakland Tribune wants to
access.


During the six month project, ten people will be trained as "community correspondents." The Tribune's partners at the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education will provide instructors and media professionals to teach participants about the technical, ethical, and creative sides of journalism and reporting. Participants will then work as community reporters - writing stories, creating blog entries, and taking photographs that may get published on the project site and in the Tribune itself.

"Oakland Voices" is a part time project designed to work with people who have other professional and personal obligations. The project offers a small stipend for all
participants.

We invite any West Oakland resident of any age to apply. You do not need a journalism background or any media experience to be accepted. Oakland Voices is seeking applicants from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

The application deadline is March 19. If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Johnson, the Oakland Voices project coordinator. 510.273.0210, OaklandVoices@Gmail.com.