This story originally appeared in the website DNA Chicago
WEST TOWN — More than a year after the Chicago Board of Education voted to close 50 schools, a discussion at Wells Community Academy High School Thursday plans to revisit how media covered the historic event.
The event, part of the Illinois Humanities Council’s “Media Remix” series, will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the school, 936 N. Ashland Ave.
“The (Untold) Stories Behind the Story: Chicago’s Historic School Closings” is expected to size up the media’s coverage of the school closings decision, including a talk about which stories might have gone under-reported, what was “good” or “bad” about the reporting as well as how these stories impacted the public’s understanding of current events.
Those slated to speak Thursday evening include Catalyst Chicago Deputy Editor Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter Linda Lutton, ABC7 reporter Sarah Schulte, Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism professor Charles Whitaker and North Lawndale College Prep student and Free Spirit Media journalist Sidney Trotter.
Linda Lenz, founder and publisher of Catalyst Chicago, will moderate the discussion, which is free to attend and will include refreshments.
Clips from CNN’s “Chicagoland” and other news videos will be shown as part of the discussion, according to event organizers.
Organizers ask that attendees RSVP.