Rachel Grant, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) Journalism assistant professor and Narrative Justice Project research director, and Vanessa Wakeman, CEO of The Wakeman Agency and former UFCJC Professional in Residence, are the co-authors of “’City by City:’ Reclaiming People of Color Voices Through the Narrative Justice Project” published in Human Communication Research on March 3.

The Narrative Justice Project is a tactical response to popular media conversations around stereotypes and conversations around racism. It’s a partnership between UFCJC and The Wakeman Agency in New York and provides training to people of color to understand how to help explain their complex narratives while also providing communities with the ability to advocate for themselves.

According to the authors, “For people of color, the mass media is a racialized tool used in the historical context to justify the lack of rights or equality. This study illustrates how counter-stories function as a redefinition of humanity. Utilizing observation and focus groups, [we] examined how public interest communication campaigns generate conversations that challenge hegemonic thinking of who is accepted into the public. By removing and expanding notions of race beyond single or specific incidents, our daily experiences of oppression can be positioned and addressed as systemic and institutional struggles.

They add, “Moreover, the Narrative Justice Project allows for communities to be, collectively and individually, agents for social change. Lessons on pitching stories, interviewing tips, and social media engagement aid people of color in navigating the maze of mass media. By equipping communities with media industry processes and tactics, people of color navigate a means for justice within the continuing struggle of our daily experiences.”

Posted: March 8, 2023
Category: College News
Tagged as: Rachel Grant, The Narrative Justice Project, Vanessa Wakeman