A society thrives when it has a well-informed citizenry, and it is the job of journalists to keep the citizenry informed.
Journalism can spark change, and hold the powerful to account... But is it activism?
At this roundtable, investigative journalist Danny Cherry Jr and climate writer and author Mary Annaïse Heglar will discuss:
Should journalism be considered activism?
What role does journalism play in the larger social justice and activist space?
What are the responsibilities of the journalist, and how to they differ from that of a fiction or creative non-fiction writer?
How to break into journalism.
And more.
About Danny Cherry Jr
By day, Danny Cherry Jr. is an MBA-havin', caffeine-addicted corporate drone. But at night, he is a novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist. He is a frequent contributor to Antigravity Magazine, and has written for: Buzzfeed News, Politico, and The Daily Beast; and published fiction for Apex Magazine, Fiyah Lit Mag, amongst others.
His work has been acknowledged in Locus Magazine recommended reading list for 2022, as well as the Best American Sci-fi and Fantasy 2023 notable stories list. His recently released debut novel, The Pike Boys, is a historical crime drama based in 1920s NOLA, and can be purchased at Books2read.com/thepikeboys
Follow him on social media on Twitter (X), TikTok, Instagram, and BlueSky @DeeCherryWriter, where he posts pictures of his Teacup Poodle, Teddy!
About Mary Annaïse Heglar
Mary Annaïse Heglar is the author of Troubled Waters (Harper Muse, 2024) and The World is Ours to Cherish (Random House Kids, 2024). She is also known for her essays that dissect and interrogate the climate crisis, drawing heavily on her personal experience as a Black woman with deep roots in the South.
Her work has appeared in New York Magazine, The Nation, The Boston Globe, Vox, Rolling Stone, and other outlets. Her work has also been featured in collections like All We Can Save, The World As We Knew It, The Black Agenda, Letters to the Earth, and Not Too Late.
Mary is from Birmingham, Alabama and Mississippi. After living in New York City and New Orleans, she recently relocated to Birmingham.