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Press Play Jackson

Celebrate the innovation, talent, and future of Jackson's media community! RSVP to snag your spot ↓

RSVP

What's the schedule?

2:00pm doors open: idea wall + coffee & tea from Urban Foxes
3:00pm doors close, program begins: intention setting and intros
3:30pm panel conversation: how we’re telling Mississippi stories through different approaches, while strengthening & supporting the local media ecosystem
4:15pm breakout community convos: what’s working/not working in local scene
- Truth in the feed: Influencers as the New Nonfiction Storytellers
- How the media landscape is changing, and how do we adapt
- Creating and growing a regenerative career in filmmaking
- Community partnerships and developing fulfilling collaborations
- Journalism Just for Me: A conversation on the importance of personal perspective & effective storytelling
5:00pm convene in larger room for sharing what we learned in the breakout sessions
5:30pm connecting: cont. discussion from breakouts/sharing & dinner catered by Eddie Wright BBQ
+ we'll select the winners of the Rode mic raffle!
6:30pm local shorts screening + Q&A
- Center for MS Food Systems | Mississippi Gulf Coast (dir. Roderick Red)
- Shaped by Clay (dir. Olivia Whittington, Samson Oklobia, Will Harbison)
- Our Rebellious Hearts (dir. Talamieka Brice)
- The Bulletin, excerpt (dir. Michael Guidry, Richard Lake)
8:00pm after party gathering, continued connecting over drinks at Fertile Ground
*attendees each get 1 drink ticket to use at the brewery

What's Press Play Jackson?

Press Play Jackson is the first celebratory stop of Press Play, a cross-country tour convening local media, with a focus on innovation and video, to shape an interconnected, meaningful future for all.

The goal? To foster cross-sector collaboration, embrace and reimagine new forms of media from the ground up, and bring the press and the public together to celebrate their city. Learn more here!

Who is this for?

If you're an emerging or established journalist, documentary filmmaker, media student, newsroom/media org leader, nonfiction creator, or creative of any kind who cares about informing and inspiring audiences, Press Play is for you.

If you're not a media maker but care about (and love) true stories, please join us for the evening community screening — and bring your friends!

Press Play is for and by the media makers of Jackson. Let's celebrate this city, forge new connections, and have solutions-focused conversations that push us farther, together.

When is it?

Friday, September 12th! Media makers, join us all day (and night). Community members, friends, and family, please join us for the evening community screening and after party. 🎉

How is it being programmed?

The national Press Play tour is run by local-first global nonprofit Video Consortium (that's us!). Press Play Jackson is presented in partnership with Deep South Today and Mississippi Today. Millsaps College, Jackson State University, Hinds Community College, Southern Documentary Project, and Red Squared are our community partners.

Press Play is made possible by Knight Foundation, in addition to Sony and Rode.

🎧 Attendees, get ready for a raffle of superb Rode audio gear!

What should I expect when I attend?

Come alone, with a colleague, or with a friend. Everyone who's attending will have their own skillset and perspective, but what we all share is a desire to use media for good — to share true stories that wake people up, to inform the public, and to inspire audiences.

We'll highlight what's working and what's changing across the media landscape while focusing heavily on video and innovation.

Come ready to have honest, collaborative, and solutions-focused conversations (and an empty stomach, as there will be great food).

Any follow up questions? Holler at us here.

Our Speakers, Presenting Filmmakers, Conversation Leaders