The Salon of Authentic Journalism draws from a rich legacy of movement journalism education while forging its own path forward.
From 2003 to 2018, the School of Authentic Journalism trained journalists and organizers across four continents with support from the Fund for Authentic Journalism, creating vital networks and developing pedagogical approaches that proved the power of grassroots media education.
When the School closed in 2018, the knowledge, relationships, and methods it had cultivated didn’t disappear – they continued growing in new directions. The community of practitioners who had been shaped by that experience spent years reflecting, organizing independently, and reimagining how Authentic Journalism education could evolve to meet the challenges of our current moment.The Salon of Authentic Journalism emerged in 2025 from this period of reflection and renewal, carrying forward the most powerful elements of that earlier work while embracing new forms of collaboration and community-building. We honor the foundation laid by those 15 years of international training while creating something distinctly our own.
Our approach continues to be guided by foundational voices and movements:
Mario Menéndez, who coined the term Authentic Journalism as founding director of Por Esto! newspaper established the core principle that journalism should remain close to the people, untainted by political or corporate interests – a vision that continues to anchor our work.
Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy remains central to our methodology, emphasizing dialogue, empowerment, and co-creation of knowledge rather than top-down information transfer.
The Highlander Folk School has long been a training ground for civil rights leaders and community organizers. From Rosa Parks to Martin Luther King Jr., its teachings emphasize the importance of education in fostering social change. The school’s legacy continues to inform our commitment to grassroots organizing and community empowerment.
Rev. James Lawson, a master of nonviolent resistance, has been a profound influence on our work. His teachings during the civil rights movement have shown us the strength in nonviolence and the importance of discipline and strategy in the fight for justice. His work is a cornerstone of our philosophy of authentic journalism and organizing.
Abbie Hoffman, a founder of the Youth International Party and a leading figure in the countercultural movement, taught us the power of direct action and how to use comedy as a strategic organizing tool. His rebellious spirit reminds us that activism can be both serious and playful, breaking down barriers with creativity.
Jonathan Kozol, an educator and activist, has devoted his life to exposing inequities in public education. His writings on inequality and poverty have inspired us to use journalism to shine a light on the systemic issues affecting marginalized communities and to give voice to those who are often unheard.
Tina Modotti, a photographer and committed revolutionary, demonstrated the power of documentary photography to document and fuel social movements. During her many years in Mexico, she captured the struggles and spirit of the oppressed, merging her creative vision with a steadfast commitment to justice.
The Salon of Authentic Journalism represents both continuity and transformation – a space where the hard-won wisdom of decades of movement journalism education meets the creative possibilities of our current historical moment. We carry forward proven methods while remaining open to new forms of learning, organizing, and storytelling that serve communities fighting for justice.
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