Glasgow, Scotland – The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) has announced the launch of a new journalistic training program aimed at individuals who have experienced homelessness and poverty. The program, titled “Changing the Narrative,” is designed to empower participants to share their own stories and perspectives on these issues, in an effort to challenge the negative and often inaccurate portrayal of homelessness and poverty in the media.
According to a recent poll by the Centre for Homelessness Impact and IPSOS, 89% of Scottish respondents consider homelessness to be a serious problem. However, the way in which the media and the public discuss these issues often perpetuates harmful stereotypes and labels such as “scroungers” and “lazy,” which can lead to a misunderstanding of the true causes and impacts of homelessness and poverty.
As the Scottish charity representing all printed newspapers and magazines sold globally by people experiencing homelessness and poverty, including The Big Issue, INSP is uniquely positioned to deliver this program. The organization is now seeking participants from Scotland to join a cohort of learners over the course of two months. These participants will receive journalism and storytelling workshops from industry professionals, as well as inspiring speakers and authors who have their own experiences to share.
Participants will have the opportunity to write and tell their own stories, whether it be a personal narrative, creative writing piece, or a news article. INSP will pay for any articles published and plans to distribute them through their global newswire, the INSP News Service, which reaches all 92 street paper organizations worldwide.
INSP hopes that this project will not only benefit the global street paper network, but also change the way in which the media and the public discuss and perceive issues surrounding homelessness and poverty. The charity has secured funding from five trusts and foundations, including The Robertson Trust, Endrick Trust, People’s Postcode Trust, Albert Hunt Trust, and the National Lottery Awards for All, to support the pilot phase of the program.
Mike Findlay-Agnew, CEO of INSP, says, “It is exciting that we have captured the imagination of funders in Scotland with our Changing the Narrative project. As levels of deep poverty continue to rise not just in Scotland, but in the UK and in other parts of the world, it is important that we have as much accurate information out there to inform the public and the media as possible.”
He adds, “We are still looking to extend our partnerships and funding, and I would love to hear from Scottish media organizations with an interest in what we are doing, with the longer-term aim of creating new pathways into the media industry for people who would otherwise not have the chance.”
Individuals interested in participating can email Niamh Brook at niamhb@insp.ngo with a 150-word statement on why they want to take part, or contact Mike Findlay-Agnew at mike@insp.ngo for a discussion about the project. INSP will conduct short interviews with potential participants in March and April, with the program set to begin in mid-April.
For more information about the International Network of Street Papers and their mission to tackle poverty and homelessness globally, please visit https://www.insp.ngo/.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For more details contact:
Mike Findlay-Agnew
E: mike@insp.ngo
M: 07545 915613
The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) is a non-profit organization based in Glasgow dedicated to tackling poverty and homelessness globally. Representing 92 street paper organizations in 35 different countries, INSP empowers people and street paper enterprises to address these issues on a global scale. For more information, please visit https://www.insp.ngo/.
[1] https://www.homelessnessimpact.org/publication/making-the-case-for-prevention-public-perceptions-of-homelessness
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.