The Indiana Citizen Education Foundation (ICEF) continues its commitment to addressing the effect of the government’s actions on racially diverse populations in Indiana through its nonprofit journalism platform.
The nonpartisan 501 (c)(3), focused on the civic health of our state, today announced its Racial Justice Reporting Project, a news and information campaign highlighting the ways in which public policies, developed at the state and local levels, can have an impact on the pursuit of justice for Hoosiers of color.
The Racial Justice Reporting Project was launched with the posting of a full-time reporting position at ICEF’s news and information platform, The Indiana Citizen, a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News. The job posting will be shared widely in a national search for the Senior Writer who will lead The Indiana Citizen’s coverage of issues at the heart of this year’s midterm elections and the 2023 session of the Indiana General Assembly.
The Indiana Citizen will partner with the Indianapolis Recorder, the nation’s fourth-oldest surviving African American newspaper and a leading voice for the Black community in Indianapolis.
The Herbert Simon Family Foundation (HSFF) made the project possible through a generous grant. It is an extension of two previous ICEF campaigns HSFF supported: The “One More Voice for Racial Justice” campaign, in 2020, to spur registration and turnout among voters of color in the general election; and the “Racial Justice Requires Fair Maps” campaign, in 2021, to highlight the impact of gerrymandering on communities of color.
“Many policies pursued during the 2022 legislative session are only our most recent reminders of what’s at stake for communities of color in Indiana, from the freedom to be included in lessons of our nation’s history, to the protection of voting rights, to changes to bail and incarceration laws,’’ said Kevin Morgan, editor-in-chief of The Indiana Citizen. “You need only to have seen the size of the crowds at the Statehouse and the unprecedented length of some of the public hearings to understand how deeply Hoosiers feel about these issues.’’
“This unique role is incredibly important given the inequities that exist for Hoosiers of color,” said Robert Shegog, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. “Consistent, data-driven coverage that focuses on racial injustices and equitable solutions fosters deeper awareness that is necessary to resolve problems and create stronger systems at all levels of government. We are incredibly excited to work with The Indiana Citizen to identify the best person for this opportunity.”
Indianapolis Recorder editor, Oseye Boyd, said, “I firmly believe we are in the midst of a second Civil Rights Movement, and the work journalists do today can impact our world for generations to come. Holding elected officials accountable – being a government watchdog – is the bedrock of democracy. We are the fourth estate, and it is journalists who challenge America to live up to her ideals. I look forward to a synergistic partnership that will produce some of the best journalism in the state.”
The Indianapolis Recorder and The Indiana Citizen partnered in the coverage of redistricting that unfolded last fall at the state level and is now ongoing within the Indianapolis city-county government.
“The Herbert Simon Family Foundation is deeply committed to promoting social justice in Indiana and has demonstrated that for the third straight year. We share that commitment,” said Bill Moreau, ICEF’s co-founder and president. “We believe the civic health of Indiana is improved when our state’s growing communities of color are informed, engaged, and motivated and we’re very grateful the Foundation continues to invest in our work.”
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed, engaged Hoosier citizens.
