The Creative Crisis and the Call for Constructive Journalism
Biographical Sketch
Kenn Burrows has been an educator and consultant for over thirty years, teaching Holistic Health Studies at San Francisco State University since 1991. He is also a member of the Executive Board of Media Freedom Foundation which oversees Project Censored, a national effort educating the public about media literacy and the importance of independent news, and the common good. He also serves as faculty advisor to Project Censored-SF State.
Amber Yang, past co-president of Project Censored-SF State, has a BA in Psychology, and a minor in Holistic Health Studies. She works for the San Francisco Unified School District, teaching yoga and mindfulness to elementary school youth and specializing as a para-educator for students with trauma and behavioral needs.
Beth Surface, recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Psychology, concentrating in holistic health studies with research experience in decision inertia and Applied Behavior Analysis. While at SF State she was co-president of Project Censored-SF State.
Photos - available if needed.
Type of Presentation
Individual presentation
Brief Description of Presentation
Welcome to the creative crisis… to a nation incapable of civil discourse and unable to solve its mounting problems. This ultimate crisis is not economic, or intellectual, it’s imaginal, and it’s fed by today’s journalistic practices… with negative news headlines contributing to a cycle of cynicism and social disengagement. This presentation calls for a “Constructive Media” movement as a creative antidote to this crisis of imagination—emphasizing solution-based journalism and the power of the arts to spark common values and collective action.
Abstract of Proposal
Welcome to the creative crisis… to a nation incapable of civil discourse and unable to solve its mounting problems. This ultimate crisis is not economic, or intellectual, it’s imaginal, and it’s fed by today’s journalistic practices. Journalism historically works to expose wrongdoing and generate awareness of possible threats. This fear-based, watchdog role is essential to a democratic society. However, the ongoing display of tragedy, war, and terror in news headlines contribute to a cycle of cynicism and social disengagement. Where’s the empowering news that triggers inspired conversations, and creative possibilities.
This presentation calls for a “Constructive Media” (CM) movement as a creative antidote to this crisis of imagination. CM foregrounds our social nature—emphasizing community generated news, solution-based journalism and the power of the arts to spark innovative thought, common (positive) values and collective action. Join us and explore how we can use this power of constructive media to help create the world we all hope for.
Location
Session 1C ( Tellfair, Hilton Garden Inn)
Start Date
2-22-2019 10:30 AM
End Date
2-22-2019 12:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Burrows, Kenn H.; Yang, Amber J.; and Surface, Beth M., "The Creative Crisis and the Call for Constructive Journalism" (2019). International Critical Media Literacy Conference. 7.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/criticalmedialiteracy/2019/2019/7
The Creative Crisis and the Call for Constructive Journalism
Session 1C ( Tellfair, Hilton Garden Inn)
Welcome to the creative crisis… to a nation incapable of civil discourse and unable to solve its mounting problems. This ultimate crisis is not economic, or intellectual, it’s imaginal, and it’s fed by today’s journalistic practices. Journalism historically works to expose wrongdoing and generate awareness of possible threats. This fear-based, watchdog role is essential to a democratic society. However, the ongoing display of tragedy, war, and terror in news headlines contribute to a cycle of cynicism and social disengagement. Where’s the empowering news that triggers inspired conversations, and creative possibilities.
This presentation calls for a “Constructive Media” (CM) movement as a creative antidote to this crisis of imagination. CM foregrounds our social nature—emphasizing community generated news, solution-based journalism and the power of the arts to spark innovative thought, common (positive) values and collective action. Join us and explore how we can use this power of constructive media to help create the world we all hope for.
