JRW Advocacy Series
Addressing Issues Affecting Writers and the World in Which We Live
In 2021, Newbery Medalist Meg Medina approached James River Writers about sponsoring an important conversation addressing book banning and censorship. Not only was this issue coming to a head in our local communities here in the greater Richmond area, but also nationwide. Without hesitation, we jumped at the opportunity to play a role in helping to magnify the important voices of authors that had been directly affected by this national issue. After great response to doing so, we decided that we wanted to host at least one advocacy panel discussion each year, and we have continued to do so. JRW has created a model of inviting nonprofit organizations that are doing the continuous advocacy work to partner with us during these discussions. We ask them to provide at least one speaker who can share vital resources and knowledge to inform our attendees, and to give them steps they can take to make a difference not only to the literary community, but to also impact the communities in which they live.
Ticket sales from our Advocacy Discussion Series are donated to the advocacy organizations we partner with to help them continue their important work.
MAY 14, 2024 ADVOCACY SERIES PROGRAM
AI in PUBLISHING: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly featuring JANE FRIEDMAN
Like it or hate it, artificial intelligence is an inescapable feature of work and life for writing and publishing today. The tools and services you use already include AI technology, including Microsoft Word, Grammarly, Gmail, and Google Docs. Eventually, AI will be an accepted and normal part of the writing and publishing process.
Jane Friedman will discuss how AI is being used by authors and publishers for positive and creative ends. There are legal, safe, and effective ways to use free and paid AI tools to help you with marketing, research, brainstorming, and deciphering the latest contract you’ve been sent. Of course, there are plenty of bad actors using AI, too, and Jane will describe the most prevalent types of fraud or infringement, and what you can do if you find yourself affected. We’ll look at how to talk with your agent and publisher about use of AI in connection with your work, plus other steps you can take to protect your rights and intellectual property.
Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The Authors Guild.
Featuring JANE FRIEDMAN
When: Tuesday, May 14 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern | Online via Zoom
Cost: $5 registration fee will be donated to the Author’s Guild
Location: Online, in the comfort of your own home. Via the Zoom Platform
Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link to join upon registraton.
Details and registration HERE.
PAST ADVOCACY DISCUSSIONS…
2023 ADVOCACY DISCUSSION | WE STILL NEED DIVERSE BOOKS
Begun around a Twitter conversation in 2014, the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books “advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.” This panel will help us understand what the publishing industry looks like today—both how far we’ve come, and how far we need to go. Join three representatives from We Need Diverse Books to learn more about what we as writers and book lovers can do to help move the needle on diversity in publishing.
Panelists: Minh Lê, Kaitlyn Patterson, and Caroline Tung Richmond
Moderator: Rosa Castellano
Full Speaker and Program Details HERE.
Proceeds from ticket sales were donated to We Need Diverse Books.
Watch the full Advocacy Discussion HERE.
2022 ADVOCACY DISCUSSION | THE ROLE OF LOCAL JOURNALISM IN A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY
As local news sources decline nationwide, a growing proportion of Americans are getting their news via social media and online platforms. Our panel will discuss the importance of a robust network of local journalism to maintain an informed population that contributes to a healthy democracy. Expert panelists include a Pulitzer Prize-winning local journalist, a professor of journalism that specializes in media bias and disinformation, and a communications specialist representing the Institute for Nonprofit News. Join us as they share their knowledge and expertise about the crucial role of local media in breaking stories that resonate with their communities, build trust in journalism as a whole, and connect national news stories at a local level that helps bring humanity and relevance to the headlines.
This advocacy panel discussion includes: Sharene Azimi, Communications Director at the Institute for Nonprofit News; Dr. Mallory Perryman, Journalism Professor in the Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University; Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Michael Paul Williams, and Journalist/Host of NPR’s Full Disclosure, Roben Farzad.
Proceeds from ticket sales were donated to The Institute for Nonprofit News.
Watch the full Advocacy Discussion HERE.
You can listen to this Advocacy discussion on NPR’s Full Disclosure HERE. Look for the May 30, 2022 episode of Full Disclosure entitled “Journalism and Democracy.”
2021 ADVOCACY DISCUSSION | CENSORSHIP AND BOOK BANNING
As book challenges have currently impacted Central Virginia and beyond, James River Writers (JRW) is providing a platform to share the insights and perspectives of nationally recognized authors directly affected by these bans, as well as leaders in anti-censorship movements. In partnership with Newbery Medalist Meg Medina, who acts as moderator, James River Writers presents CENSORSHIP & BOOK BANNING: An Important and Timely Discussion. JRW’s goal is to help our audience understand the issues, both overt and implied, so that, moving forward, citizens are prepared to provide advocacy and support for the literary community in the commonwealth and across the nation.
This advocacy panel discussion includes award-winning authors Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X) and Ashley Hope Pérez (Out of Darkness), discussing their works that have recently been pulled from public school libraries in New Kent and Henrico counties, respectively. They are joined by Gordon Danning of the National Coalition Against Censorship, as well as Angie Manfredi, a librarian who left her job at the State Library of Iowa in August after legislation was passed in her state that banned critical race theory.
Proceeds from ticket sales were donated to The National Coalition Against Censorship.
Watch the full Advocacy Discussion HERE.
This program series is supported [in part] by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.