Why the world needs this site

03.29.08
As journalists, we talk a big game about being a voice for the voiceless.

But in the daily grind of turning out a paper or broadcast or Web site, and in a climate where corporate ownership of news outlets has everyone grasping for the most profitable demographics, the voiceless are often sidelined as an afterthought. Presumably the middle age, middle income, middle educated readers only want to read stories about themselves, so we do stories about them.

What about those who don't have the income and education to speak for themselves? Our mission as journalists is to tell stories about the world around us, but what about the world most of our readers don't see every day?

It's not easy for most people to step outside the bounds of what they know. But it's vitally important to what we do.

Covering poverty is a way to show readers a different perspective on the consequences of their actions, or the actions of elected officials. It's a way to tell the full story of who we are as Americans and where we're going as a nation.

This site aspires to work as a forum for journalists covering poverty. We hope to bring together journalists who can inform and inspire one another to give a fair and accurate account of the "other" side of America.

Labels: about, covering poverty, mission, purpose