Now more than ever, it’s important for everyone to know what journalism is and how it should serve communities.
You may have noticed in recent years that the wealthy and powerful have increased attacks on the institution of journalism. Baltimore Beat is building something that is meant to outlast this moment of crisis and tell stories about our community that mean something and make a difference.
So, we are taking our documentary, “The Beat Goes On: The Story of Baltimore Beat,” on tour.
The documentary explores Baltimore’s legacy of Black journalism, the end of 40-year-old cultural institution Baltimore City Paper, and police accountability in the wake of the 2015 uprising sparked by the death of Freddie Gray.
“We are living through the reality of what happens when the news isn’t inclusive, when the news doesn’t meet the needs of everyone in the community,” Publisher Lisa Snowden said. “The Beat is part of a community of news outlets that are trying to build something better. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to have our stories told in this way.”
6pm Productions, composed of director David Elliot, producer Dion Smith, and producer and recording artist Eze Jackson, spent the last year following the Beat and interviewing co-founders Snowden and Brandon Soderberg, along with Beat staffers, local artists and musicians, journalism veterans like Mark Steiner and Baynard Woods, and longtime police accountability activist Tawanda Jones.
“We had this opportunity to tell the story of how the legacy of the Black press is still impacting journalists in Baltimore,” Elliot said.
February 19: Georgetown University
February 25: The Real News Network
March 28 – Wide Angle Youth Media
April 18 – Peabody Heights Brewery
May 8 – Current Space
Want to add or suggest a tour date? Email us: distribution@baltimorebeat.com.