A new coalition has formed in Pittsburgh to address the impending closure of the Post-Gazette.Members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh at the Post-Gazette and community members have announced the formation of the Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting. “We are trying to make sure that your access to news does not depend on your proximity to power, that your stories are able to get to be told,” said Tanisha Long with the Abolitionist Law Center.PAPER is not a newspaper. Its goal is to organize alternatives to the Block-owned Post-Gazette. Just a few weeks ago, Block Communications announced it would cease operations in May. “To reach out and engage everyday people in solving looming problems, like the city’s loss of a major source of news and information. That’s the spirit in which PAPER was born,” Steve Mellon, a Post-Gazette photographer, said. Speakers say they want to create a new publication that engages with the concerns of working-class people.”We are here because we deserve a free and fair media. We are here because Pittsburgh is a union town. We are here because for far too long, our media has not represented the voices of the people we know,” Long said. Organizers are currently seeking community support and donations.”There’s so much research and things that we have to do, printed materials, renting space for future town halls where we can listen to your community members’ input. And if we get far enough. Yeah, perhaps it can scale up an actual newsgathering operation, but we don’t know what the future will hold,” said Natalie Duleba, who is with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh.The Post-Gazette is scheduled to close on May 3. You can find more information on PAPER here.

PITTSBURGH —

A new coalition has formed in Pittsburgh to address the impending closure of the Post-Gazette.

Members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh at the Post-Gazette and community members have announced the formation of the Pittsburgh Alliance for People-Empowered Reporting.

“We are trying to make sure that your access to news does not depend on your proximity to power, that your stories are able to get to be told,” said Tanisha Long with the Abolitionist Law Center.

PAPER is not a newspaper. Its goal is to organize alternatives to the Block-owned Post-Gazette. Just a few weeks ago, Block Communications announced it would cease operations in May.

“To reach out and engage everyday people in solving looming problems, like the city’s loss of a major source of news and information. That’s the spirit in which PAPER was born,” Steve Mellon, a Post-Gazette photographer, said.

Speakers say they want to create a new publication that engages with the concerns of working-class people.

“We are here because we deserve a free and fair media. We are here because Pittsburgh is a union town. We are here because for far too long, our media has not represented the voices of the people we know,” Long said.

Organizers are currently seeking community support and donations.

“There’s so much research and things that we have to do, printed materials, renting space for future town halls where we can listen to your community members’ input. And if we get far enough. Yeah, perhaps it can scale up an actual newsgathering operation, but we don’t know what the future will hold,” said Natalie Duleba, who is with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh.

The Post-Gazette is scheduled to close on May 3. You can find more information on PAPER here.