Rural Women Journalists Connect

Last month, our friends at The Daily Yonder joined us to host a powerful discussion about the benefits and challenges facing women working as journalists in rural communities. You can catch the full session on our Youtube channel.

The session sparked an interest to continue to conversation.  Drop a note to Daily Yonder Digital Editor Caroline Carlson at caroline@dailyyonder.org if you’re interested in future conversations about women in rural journalism.

Supporting Rural Journalism 

At the Rural Assembly, we value strong journalism in rural communities. Our partner, The Daily Yonder, is the only national news organization for rural people and places. Caroline Carlson, who led the breakout session above, recently shared her own story about growing up in the small town of Viroqua, Wisconsin, which sits in the heart of the Midwest’s “Driftless Area,” and why supporting the work of The Daily Yonder matters: 

“Growing up in a rural place has given me invaluable experiences and unique perspectives. My home is stunningly beautiful and yet, Vernon County is among 30 rural counties (out of 45 rural counties in the state) that has been losing jobs since 2019. The data-driven research and analysis that illustrates this phenomenon—the stuff we undertake at the Daily Yonder—is absolutely critical in demystifying and dismantling harmful tropes about rural America.”

Drawing Resilience: Maureen Hearty

Maureen Hearty transforms objects, space, and community, seeing art as a tool for action, education, and opportunity. The majority of her community-based work today is on the eastern plains of Colorado, considered one of the most sparsely populated areas in the United States. In Joes, Colorado (pop. 78), she is activating space using art, music, and the collection of story. In 2020, Maureen and her friend Kristin Stoltz were awarded an NEA grant for a project titled “Arts for a Prairie Seas: Farming Fluxus.”

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