Ep. 91 - Narratives in Media & Documenting Movements 2.0 ft. Morgan Elise Johnson

10-05-2023 • 1 hr 15 mins

BrownTown reflects on the 2023 Chicago municipal elections and the importance of disrupting dominant media narratives with Morgan Elise Johnson, filmmaker, publisher, and co-creator of the TRiiBE, an award-winning digital publication and production company dedicated to reshaping the narrative of Black Chicago.

Local, community, and especially radical and movement-based actors in radio, film, podcasts, and documentation have greatly disrupted the broader media landscape in the past decade for the better. BrownTown and Morgan discuss all the things from her presence on the WGN run-off election panel, the history and spectacle of political punditry, the real meaning of "tough on crime" rhetoric and what it obscures, to the harmful journalistic myth of objectivity and the violent status quo it upholds. How do we use these mediums, skills, experiences, and analyses to challenge the false/misinformed dominant narratives and uplift radical politics while continuing to access mass audiences in the ever-changing, fast-paced digital ecosystem? Here's their take. Originally recorded April 27, 2023.

Full Transcriptions Here!

GUEST

Morgan (she/her) is an independent filmmaker and publisher based in Chicago who is creating and preserving Black history. Most recently, she produced Unapologetic (2020). Morgan’s documentary career was born at Northwestern University and grew at Milwaukee-based production house, 371 Productions, where she produced and co-directed her first documentary, There Are Jews Here (PBS/WORLD CHANNEL, 2016). She also associate produced a Virtual Reality exploration of abortion clinic harassment called Across The Line (2016) which premiered at Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontiers exhibit. Her life and career evolved when she co-created The TRiiBE in 2018. Morgan has earned a spot on DOC NYC’s 40 under 40 list (2021), the Rolling Stones Cultural Council and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media Class of 2019. Follow Morgan on Instagram, and Twitter! and the TRiiBE on their site, Instagram, and Twitter!

Mentioned and related:

First installment Ep. 70 ft. Mateo Zapata
Are there too many Black people running for Chicago mayor? Residents weigh in by Tonia Hill (TRiiBE)
Editorial: Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson found a place in his acceptance speech for God. But not Barack Obama. (Chicago Tribune)
Brandon Johnson’s Ground Game Defeats Obama Machine in Chicago by Luke Goldstein (American Prospect)
Activist and BnB alum Damon Williams on the '23 election (before, after)
Tonia and Tiffany of the TRiiBE on Ben Joravsky’s podcast
Obama Library Lease, 19 Acres For $10 by Heather Cherone (Block Club Chicago)
Benji Hart's Twitter post - election highlights and reflective thoughts

CREDITS: Intro soundbite from Mateo Zapata, guest on the first installment of Narratives in Media & Documenting Movements, Episode 70 and outro soundbite from Tahman Bradley of WGN on run-off election night, April 4, 2023. Audio engineered by Kiera Battles.