Press Play

Presented by Video Consortium in collaboration with local partners, this national initiative bridges divides across age, class, and culture, transforming audiences into participants and stories into shared experiences. 

As traditional media models are upended, journalism has shifted from a monologue to a conversation, and the public must be part of how media is messaged. Here, by bringing creators and community members together, Press Play anchors storytelling in local life. 

Inviting dialogue across the lens and beyond the newsroom, Press Play’s unique format paves the way for progress and collaboration within local communities and media ecosystems by:

• Connecting communities to feel seen and heard, anchoring conversations in shared values that go beyond societal divides.
• Supporting local creators, documentarians + newsrooms to more deeply connect with audiences and widen their reach.
• Highlighting local stories and the talent doing essential reporting and storytelling.
• Amplifying solutions-focused conversations that move past vague networking and directly address what’s working and what needs to change.

Press Plays are guided by local partners, with offerings like these tailored to fit the city’s needs:

• Community Conversations: Facilitated, solutions-oriented discussions surrounding topics and themes pertinent to the local ecosystem.
• Panel Conversations: Deep-dive discussions, featuring local community members, to explore the real-world impact of regional projects and/or issue areas.
• Screenings: Local film premieres/showcases and subsequent discussions and calls to action that contribute to real impact.
• Hands-on, Interactive Activities: An idea wall or collaborative mural, which serves as an interactive entry point for attendees to post questions, express their creativity, and voice ideas to map the community’s needs in real-time.
• Breaking Bread: gathering together over local food and drink to spark lasting partnerships.
• A Cultural Celebration: highlighting local artists and culture. 

Press Play is a space to be seen, heard, and inspired — whether you consume the news or make it.

• The Public: Everyone is invited! If you believe in the power of connection and want to be part of the solution, you belong at Press Play.
• Creators: Journalists, documentary filmmakers, newsrooms, and storytellers of all kinds.
• Stakeholders: Funders, civic groups, local entities, and media allies looking to support community cohesion.

Us, Video Consortium!

Video Consortium is a local-first, global nonprofit media network that supports thousands of nonfiction filmmakers, journalists, and creators producing critical video journalism within their own communities. Our local gatherings, workshops, and programs run across dozens of cities around the United States and world.

Press Play brings VC’s trusted convening power to cities around the country — building resilience, collaboration, and community care along the way.

From Jackson to Chesapeake Bay to Hot Springs and beyond, Press Play is on the move. Want to bring this to your community? 

Email press.play@videoconsortium.org to learn more and Press Play in your city.

We offer a variety of ways to get involved and welcome you to email us. No matter how we collaborate, by supporting Press Play, you'll:

Strengthen local media:

Trustworthy press is the immune system of American democracy. Press Play actively combats misinformation and parachute journalism, pushes against media monopolies, and builds up local journalism communities by encouraging cross-sector collaboration and the use of new formats.

Increase community engagement:

Video is the primary way people engage with information. Press Play spotlights this shift by uplifting local talent and the next generation of nonfiction visual creators, while encouraging the public and the press to engage in active, solutions-focused dialogue.