Is a project through St. Paul Neighborhood Network to encourage citizen journalism and promote democratized television. The initiative is supported by J-Lab the Institute of Interactive Journalism.
Our vision is to create an avenue through public access, to encourage citizen journalism through the creation of a mini-series, solely produced by local community producers. Two half hour programs were created and are currently running on Channel 15 Wednesdays at 7PM through September.
St. Paul News Desk Projects
Portrait of a Lowertown Artist
Producer: Sid Pranke
A profile piece on Wendy McCarty, a longtime St. Paul fine artist who also has a studio in the Lowertown area...one interesting thing about Wendy besides the paintings she does is she travels to India at least once a year to do a pilgrimage for her religious beliefs, and because she loves India...she also has a larger-than-life personality!
Riot Act Poetry Reading
Producer: Sid Pranke
An event/issue piece on the Riot Act reading series, a forum for poets and spoken word artists held at local St. Paul venue periodically. Poets like Paul Dickinson and Laura Brandenburg organize the event.
Reparations
Producer: Trahern Crews
This piece explores what is meant by reparations and how the St. Paul community feels about the issue.
Local Hip Hop artist B-Loc
Producer: Trahern Crews
Find out about this St. Paul Hip Hop artist's upcoming projects and overcoming adversity in his life while recording his albulm and why his music is important to St. Paul.
Surviving the Recession
Producer: Trahern Crews
This piece talks with local St. Paul businessmen and women about what they are doing to succeed during the recession.
Indonesian Dancer
Producer: Mahi Palanisami
Diyah Larasati is a dance professor on the U of MN campus who uses dance as a way to speak out against genocide and other atrocities. This 3-5 minute piece would bring to light Larasati's skills as an Indonesian choreographer and dancer, and also her mission to emotionally explain how current events and an untold history of trauma affect people to this day.
St. Paul News Desk Projects
Como Park Neighborhood
Producer: Kerri Kleinschmidt
This piece looks at the historic Como Park neighborhood in St. Paul. It includes a brief history and seasonal activities available to the public year round.
Corporate Coffee Culture
Producer: Shawn Harwell
Looks at the practice of corporate coffee franchises versus small community owned coffee shops.
Local Asian Pop Artist
Producer: Shawn Harwell
A profile of a Laosian music artist who despite her families wishes for her to sing more traditional music, pursues a career in Pop music. She lives in St. Paul.
Night life in downtown St. Paul
Producer: Shawn Harwell
Lack of night life in downtown St. Paul and why people think it is that St. Paul can't seem to revive it's night life scene.
Barbershop Brotherhood
Producer: Shawn Harwell
Compare the meaning and culture of a barbershop like Figgicillo's in the St. Paul Skyway which is predominately white men with a barbershop that has a mostly black clientele.
Soap Boxing Poetry Slam
Producer: Ron Kenebrew
The piece is about the city-wide spoken word competition which was held at the Artist Quarter in downtown St. Paul, MN. It was a four round elimination contest. Which was initially comprised of eight contestants. The scoring eliminated 4 contestants.
St. Paul News Desk
Sherine Crooms
Project Producer
Ms. Crooms is a filmmaker, media educator, film critic, producer and a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia. Most of her work explores the politics of gender, race, culture and class.
Bonnie Schumacher
Project Coordinator
Ms. Schumacher is the manager of the access department of St.Paul Neighborhood Network since 2002.
Ben Plocher Assistant Project Producer
Ben is attending University of Wisconsin River Falls. He is working a bachelor in Film and Television communication. He has been interning at SPNN since February of 2009.
Jennifer Adrienne Burks
Host
is a former student of St. Thomas University and has worked in local Twin Cities news stations, such as WCCO, KARE-11 & KSTP-TV. She also has extensive journalism experience. Jennifer has most recently began producing a music show that features local and national musicians and artists.
