Community-centered journalism reflects a pandemic that changed Kansas City forever
Kansas City is invited to submit personal stories about the impact of COVID-19 for an oral history project.
As we approach the one year anniversary of the global COVID-19 health crisis, The Beacon wants to hear from Kansas Citians about experiences that changed our lives.
This project aims to reflect the diversity of lived experiences during the pandemic through narrative storytelling and uncover underreported stories that center community voices. We want to hear from people of all backgrounds, ages, races and experiences. We hope that by sharing these stories, our community can have a better collective understanding of how the pandemic has impacted our friends, families and neighbors, and provide a snapshot of these times for future generations.
This project will also revisit The Beacon’s most memorable coronavirus coverage and check in with the people we met over the last year. We’ll remember how the pandemic shaped the 2020 Election, social justice movements and emergency response, to name just a few.
The project speaks to one of The Beacon’s core values: Local first. We’re a startup newsroom, and as we put down roots in the communities we cover, we work with our readers as well as for them. Our vision for the future of local journalism centers community relationships. For our news to be truly equitable, we must co-create our coverage with the community.
