BONUS: “The Prison Beat” | S2: New Folsom

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and opportunities of prison reporting with formerly incarcerated journalists.

Reporting on prisons from the outside is often difficult; it’s a closed and secretive world. But there is also important reporting being done by people who are inside prison, which comes with dangers of its own. Sukey and Julie sit down with two formerly incarcerated journalists, Rahsaan Thomas and Jesse Vasquez, to talk about the challenges and opportunities of prison reporting. Rahsaan Thomas is the Executive Director of Empowerment Avenue and a producer at Ear Hustle. Jesse Vasquez is the Executive Director of the Pollen Initiative and former Editor-in-Chief of the San Quentin News. Mental health resources If you are currently in crisis, you can dial 988 [U.S.] to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. SAMHSA National Help Line 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Helpline US Health and Human Services Warmline Directory Episode Transcript Find more information at our website. If you have tips or feedback about this series please reach out to us at onourwatch@kqed.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Sukey, Julie

Guests: Rahsaan Thomas, Jesse Vasquez

Topics covered

• prison reporting
• journalism
• mental health
• incarceration
• challenges of reporting

Keywords

• prison
• reporting
• journalism
• mental health
• incarceration
• Rahsaan Thomas
• Jesse Vasquez

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Empowerment Avenue, Pollen Initiative, San Quentin News, National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, SAMHSA National Help Line, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), US Health and Human Services

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