A media scooplet from me for @CJR: Rep. @tedlieu is working on legislation aimed at reviving the Federal Writers' Project—a 1930s New Deal program that put unemployed journalists and authors to work documenting America on the public dime. /1 https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project

In 1937, Sterling A. Brown, a poet and literature professor at Howard University, published a forthright essay charting the history of Black life in his hometown of Washington, DC—from the district’s...

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The timing and details of the bill are tbd, but Lieu's office told me a new FWP could be anchored within the Labor Dept or a cultural agency, and could run as a grant program administered through existing community institutions—including newsrooms. /2 https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project

In 1937, Sterling A. Brown, a poet and literature professor at Howard University, published a forthright essay charting the history of Black life in his hometown of Washington, DC—from the district’s...

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
It follows a recent push from fans of the FWP—most notably @DavidKipen, of UCLA—who think reviving it could serve a double benefit: putting unemployed writers to work, and helping America understand itself, which was a key goal of the original project. /3 https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project

In 1937, Sterling A. Brown, a poet and literature professor at Howard University, published a forthright essay charting the history of Black life in his hometown of Washington, DC—from the district’s...

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
Obviously, there's a long way to go before a new FWP can become a reality. But there are numerous other proposals already before Congress that would at least channel some of the *spirit* of the original—by offering public funding for the news business. /4 https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project

In 1937, Sterling A. Brown, a poet and literature professor at Howard University, published a forthright essay charting the history of Black life in his hometown of Washington, DC—from the district’s...

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
For @CJR, I took a deep dive into the history of the FWP, what a new one could look like, and the prospects for federal media funding more generally. Journalism is in crisis. Bold ideas are needed to save it—and such boldness is not unprecedented. /5 https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project

In 1937, Sterling A. Brown, a poet and literature professor at Howard University, published a forthright essay charting the history of Black life in his hometown of Washington, DC—from the district’s...

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
Featuring my scoop on @tedlieu, and extra thoughts and analysis from @davidkipen, @jasonboog, @businessofnews, @notaaroncraig, @VWPickard, and @zawadidoll, who has been running her own, excellent COVID Writers' Project out of Brooklyn. /END https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
The enduring lessons of a New Deal writers project

In 1937, Sterling A. Brown, a poet and literature professor at Howard University, published a forthright essay charting the history of Black life in his hometown of Washington, DC—from the district’s...

https://www.cjr.org/special_report/new-deal-journalism-federal-writers-project.php
And thanks to @CharlesPPierce for the signal boost! https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a35048660/new-deal-federal-writers-project/
Bring Back the New Deal's Federal Writers Project

The next Zora Neale Hurston is out there.

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a35048660/new-deal-federal-writers-project/
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