Introduction to "Information Stories" by Peter M. Shane

This video is the introduction to a set of 12 digital narratives called "Information Stories" that appear, along with a concluding video, here.  They focus on the questions:  What's at stake when local news and information flow doesn't serve all members of a community equally well? How can people respond? 

Some are stories of journalism.  Examples include the struggle of a labor union secretary/mother of five to get media coverage for asbestos-related disease in Libby, Montana, and the creation of an online newspaper for the “news desert” of southeast New Hampshire. Others are stories of activism.  The executive director of Native Public Media describes the drive to bring broadband to Indian Country.  A faith-based community organizer discusses a campaign to help poor people overcome the powerlessness caused by living “in an information vacuum.” Inclusiveness is a major theme to Information Stories.  For example, an undocumented immigrant tells how he pursues art and community organizing to make visible the immigrant experience.  A young radio reporter and producer from Chicago reveals how he learned to listen to, not just speak to his community.  A high school student relates why she thought it important to make transgender people a more visible presence at San Francisco Pride.  A “hard-of-hearing” English professor talks about making the voices of deaf students heard.   Other storytellers include a small town mayor, the manager of an online dialogue space, a community television board member, and a convener of community conversations about public health.  Information Stories reveals the loss when local information flows leave stories uncovered, concerns unaddressed, or voices left out – and the gain when these exclusions don’t happen.