WSIU and the Carbondale Public Library hosted a special event on Wednesday night. About 20 people were present for Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented in partnership with ITVS and INDEPENDENT LENS. The event included a free dinner and screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “Breaking the News,” as well as a community discussion about better media coverage of diverse issues and perspectives. The discussion was moderated by Alee Quick of the News Literacy Project and WSIU Executive Director Fred Martino, Ph.D.
“Breaking the News” follows the launch of The 19th*, a news startup that asks who’s been omitted from mainstream coverage, and how to include them. Bringing viewers right into the newsroom during tense moments as the newsroom launches in a pandemic amid rising social unrest, the film provides a lucid picture of what it takes to challenge the status quo and break the mold in American media.
With footage spanning three years, the film documents honest discussions at The 19th* around race and gender equity, revealing that change doesn’t come easy, and showcases how they confront these challenges both as a workplace and in their journalism. But this film is about more than a newsroom. It’s about America in flux, and the voices that are often left out of the American story.
For more information, visit: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/breaking-the-news/
WSIU and the Carbondale Public Library have partnered for two more Indie Lens Pop-Up events on March 27 and May 1. Both of those events will also include free dinners, film screenings, and discussions about some of the most important issues in the nation.
Upcoming events at the Carbondale Public Library 5pm to 7pm:
March 27: Free dinner, screening, and discussion
Matter of Mind: My ALS
Three people with ALS confront complex choices in this intimate exploration. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease with an average survival time of 2-5 years from diagnosis. In this intimate exploration, three people with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, bravely face different paths as they live with this progressively debilitating illness.
May 1: March 27: Free dinner, screening, and discussion
The Tuba Thieves
What is the role of sound and what does it mean to listen? Hard of hearing filmmaker Alison O’Daniel uses a series of tuba thefts in Los Angeles high schools as a jumping-off point to explore these questions. Through several d/Deaf people telling stories in a unique game of telephone, the central mystery of The Tuba Thieves isn’t about theft of instruments: it’s about the nature of sound itself.
About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a community series that brings people together for film screenings and conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's INDEPENDENT LENS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most. Learn more at pbs.org/indielenspopup.
About INDEPENDENT LENS INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy® Award-winning PBS documentary series. With founding executive producer Lois Vossen, the series has been honored with 10 Academy Award nominations and features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Acton Family Giving, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Stream anytime on the PBS App. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens.
