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Pioneer Utility Resources today announced the DEI Rural Storytelling Fellowship, an innovative journalism program that aims to cultivate a new generation of rural storytellers that can unearth the stories rarely told in today’s media outlets.
“Expanding the range of rural storytellers will result in richer accounts of rural life as it is truly lived,” says Leon Espinoza, Pioneer’s senior vice president of content and the executive sponsor of the fellowship.
Through this formal mentorship program, the fellowship resident will travel around the Pacific Northwest for six months. During that time, the resident will find, report and write lively and meaningful content for Pioneer’s West Coast magazines, digital channels and beyond.
“If you’re interested in sharing the untold stories of rural and underrepresented communities, this is the fellowship for you,” says Victoria Hampton, a Pioneer associate editor and the program’s team leader.
The goal is to tell rural stories with a fresh voice and perspective through print and digital mediums in ways that expand our audiences and increase the public’s understanding of rural life. This year’s fellowship resident will help shine a light on bridging the digital divide in rural communities, a challenge that was highlighted by the pandemic and the lack of digital access it exposed in rural areas.
Along the way, the resident will be guided and coached by a dedicated team of Pioneer’s veteran editors, writers and digital media experts, assuring a meaningful experience.
“The resident’s writing will be complemented by multimedia storytelling that is shaped by their skillsets and interests,” Hampton says. “They’ll have a team of communication experts ready to support their creativity and help them gain valuable experience.”
The 2023 DEI Rural Storytelling Fellowship is funded by a $30,000 grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust and Pioneer’s time and resources.
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has been supporting the growth of Pacific Northwest nonprofits since 1975. From day one, our mission has been to serve individuals, families and communities across the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, through grantmaking, enrichment programs and convenings that strengthen the region’s educational, social, spiritual, and cultural base in ways that are innovative and sustainable. Find out more at murdocktrust.org.
Pioneer Utility Resources is a leading communications co-op that has delivered innovative solutions to community-owned utilities since 1956. Our team is made up of experienced communicators, web experts and designers. We are built to share your story. Find out more at pioneer.coop.
