AURORA | Community members from across the metro region are invited to a timely event aimed at fostering civil conversations just as public polarization and tension reaches fever pitch here, and across the nation.
The Aurora Sentinel, in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS, other engaged journalism organizations and members of the Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange, will hold a free community event Oct. 22 at the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver.
“This is an important opportunity for metro residents to hit the pause button on public angst and find a way to talk with each other, rather than at each other,” said Sentinel Editor Dave Perry.
The free event will cover topics ranging from the struggles of small newsrooms to the importance of civil discourse in divisive times. Participants will offer everyone the opportunity to engage directly with local media and community leaders.
“Above the Noise,” seeks to create a public space for dialogue and understanding amid rising tensions surrounding increasing economic pressures and polarized political rhetoric, event coordinators say.
In addition, participants can become acquainted with the Sentinel and other media from across the metro area and the state that work to elevate the voices and interests of ethnic Coloradans.
As part of the evening’s program, attendees will view a screening of the short documentary “Undivide Us,” followed by an open discussion on how Coloradans can bridge gulfs in their communities and engage in more civil conversations, especially as the state approaches the 2024 elections.
The event is free and open to the public and will also include complimentary food and beverages.
The need for such conversations has never been more critical, said Sentinel Editor and Publisher Dave Perry.
“From the swollen costs of almost everything to jaw-clenching polarized election rhetoric, it’s not hard to feel the pressure of the times, and our newsrooms are no exception,” Perry said. “Small newsrooms, particularly those across Colorado, are struggling with limited resources and staffing, making it harder to cover more stories and engage meaningfully with the communities we serve.”
At the same time, journalists are working to navigate an increasingly shrill and harsh public forum fueled by social media and prolific misinformation and disinformation, Perry said.
“Above the Noise is an opportunity for the Sentinel, other local media and the public to stand back from the fray,” Perry said.
Rocky Mountain Public Media has launched the “Above the Noise” initiative, a partnership involving the Colorado Media Project, Colorado Press Association, and Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation. The goal of this collaboration is to support small newsrooms across the state by providing resources, skill-building opportunities, and community engagement events that equip journalists to better serve their audiences.
Other members of the Colorado Ethnic Media Network participating in the Above the Noise Event include Asian Avenue Magazine, El Comercio de Colorado newspaper, Colorado Chinese News, Enterate Latino, Afrik Digest magazine and more.
“Above the Noise” has already started to make an impact by holding similar events across Colorado.
Previous workshops have focused on critical issues such as combating misinformation, adapting to the rise of artificial intelligence, and learning how to navigate the evolving digital media landscape.
Spanning the Front Range and Western Slope, the project is working with 40 newsrooms in print, digital, radio, and television.
Ark Valley Voice Editor and Publisher Jan Wondra emphasized the importance of the conversations in the Salida area, especially as elections near.
“We need to find a way to talk and build bridges, which is going to keep us in the middle. In the middle is where everything gets done,” Wondra said.
IF YOU GO: The event is scheduled 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Tivoli Student Union’s Turnhalle Room, 900 Auraria Parkway in Denver. Residents interested in attending the free event, which includes food and beverages, can register online by clicking here.
I think I have this straight. Dave Perry and the almost socialist Sentinel Blog, meets with left leaning PBS affiliate and a bunch of ethnic other newspapers to “Undivide Us” and bridge us to go above the fray of misinformation. Then they decide to meet at a university who was last in the news mass supporting the Palestinian movement.
“We need to find a way to talk and build bridges, which is going to keep us in the middle. In the middle is where everything gets done,” Wondra said.
Seems a bit one sided but there should be total agreement by the end of the meeting. It reminds me of a bridge to nowhere.
It’s just a re-skinned version of this:
“This democratic method of resolving contradictions among the people was epitomized in 1942 in the formula “unity, criticism, unity”. To elaborate, it means starting from the desire for unity, resolving contradictions through criticism or struggle and arriving at a new unity on a new basis. In our experience this is the correct method of resolving contradictions among the people.”
From the article: “This is an important opportunity for metro residents to hit the pause button on public angst and find a way to talk with each other, rather than at each other,” said Sentinel Editor Dave Perry.”
Perry and the Sentinel are rabidly partisan in every way possible which does nothing to pause “public angst”. PBS is rabidly partisan to the extent it has zero journalistic credibility. This article, like most things Sentinel, is a farce.