A potato-themed speed dating adventure, accessible resources, and more
We're letting ourselves ease into 2023, and we hope you are, too.
Plenty of things are cooking over here at Zenith, including some amazing workshops and panels hosted by our mentors. This month, Pearse Anderson and Jacqui Germain hosted an event on how to submit to lit journals, and Xavier Lopez hosted a workshop on the basics of ProTools for aspiring audio engineers; we hope to have recordings of these workshops available sometime in February. Throughout the coming weeks, we’ll have workshops on topics like how to find workflows, clients, and jobs that work for neurodivergent people, and more.
As always, our goal is to make as many resources as possible available and accessible for those looking to enter into or find their footing in the media industry. If you have questions for us, or ideas about what you’d like to see Zenith put into the world, reach out!
In solidarity,
Elly Belle, Zenith newsletter editor, and the Zenith Cooperative
Mentee Spotlight: Cassandra Roxburgh
Q&A:
Who is your mentor?
My mentor is Lexi.
What's something significant you've learned from them so far this year?
How to let go of projects that aren't giving me joy.
Why did you want to join Zenith?
For the community support of a group of writers and editors trying to produce meaningful work while surviving the unbearable weight of capitalism.
Who are some writers you look up to in media? Which writers, journalists, and editors are shaping your work or the work you want to do?
I think writers like Katelyn Burns and Erin Reed are providing excellent coverage of the onslaught against trans rights. As someone who is trying to write about the trans experience in South Africa, I'm inspired by how they manage to keep their head above the water and not have breakdowns every time they have to write about a new piece of legislation that effectively advocates for the eradication of trans people.
What topics/beats are you invested in and why?
I'm heavily invested in writing about trans identity in South Africa. As a trans-South African, I've noticed the media often reports on trans people in a way that furthers stereotypes or neglects to shine a light on the horrific abuses we experience regularly. It's very much a case of "if I don't do this, maybe no one else will.”
What is your writing/reporting process?
I have never had a consistent process because of how infrequently I tend to work on journalist pieces lately. For my last project, I was engaged in a prolonged investigative report which had me calling and emailing sources almost daily. That has become a massive investigation file we need to filter into something coherent. However, for the piece I recently published regarding unions in the gaming industry, most of my time was spent doing intensive research into the timeline for the union movement while weaving in commentary from interviewed sources.
What are you passionate about besides writing and journalism?
As a neurodivergent person, I am a revolving door of passions. I have fallen madly in love with rock climbing and live my best stereotypical lesbian life. I've had a lifelong love for birdwatching which always throws people off because it is not something you expect a 26-year-old person to be passionate about, but anyone who goes hiking with me has to patiently wait for me to identify birds.
What is Zenith writing about lately?
A Potato-Themed Speed Dating Adventure
For the Chicago Reader, Anson interviewed the creator of a queer-friendly, inclusive speed-dating/community-building project called Hot Potato Hearts. This was her first time having a pitch accepted and being published.
Tripping for the Planet: Psychedelics and Climate Activism
With more states legalizing psychedelics, activists are interested in exploring their power. Is that a good idea? Amber explores the intersection of plant-based drugs and climate activism for Atmos.
Nanny Uses West African Mythology to Demolish the American Dream
Nanny is a horror film rooted in African mythology. Matene feels passionate about this film because of the ways it utilizes West African folklore to indict capitalism and worker oppression.
Your Stuff is Actually Worse Now
Izzie pulls the curtain back from the cult of consumerism and how it’s ushered in an era of badly made products, for Vox.
An Ode to Kraft Dinner, Food of Troubled Times
Although Ivana has wanted to write about her own longstanding love affair with Kraft for a long time, this is about much more. In this essay, she tells the story of what Kraft mac and cheese has to do with how we—all of us—eat in periods of suffering and in moments of joy.
“Prophet of Discontent” Looks at MLK’s Criticism of Capitalism and Militarism
For Teen Vogue, Patrick connected with the authors of the book “Prophet of Discontent,” Andrew J. Douglas and Jared A. Loggins, to discuss Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy. Patrick hopes this interview challenges the constant whitewashing of MLK’s legacy.
How to Endure the Winters of a Life Sentence
An incarcerated person writes for The Frontline about winter's lessons in helping him navigate seasons of light and dark, hope and despair. The piece is part of a partnership between Atmos and the Prison Journalism Project to help bring the stories and voices of incarcerated people to the publication, which Madeleine helped set up to break down barriers.
Corporate Culture is a Barrier to Labor Organizing
Cassandra delves into the challenges facing labor organizations in the video game industry. As a long-time gamer who has been grappling with the ethical questions of engaging with video games in light of workplace exploitation, this article was a chance for them to explore how studies commodify talent and the importance of solidarity in the face of growing labor violations.
After Cancelled Gossip Girl Reboot, Creator Josh Safran Reflects on the Show’s Legacy
The Gossip Girl reboot might have been cancelled, but you can never truly kill Gossip Girl. In a post-mortem following the season 2 finale, Elly spoke with showrunner Josh Safran about the meaning behind the show, and goes long on what it hoped to teach us about our emotions and relationships.
What else are we creating?
Melinda Fakuade:
This Is Why! is a new culture newsletter started by Melinda and Lilly Milman, a pair of writers and best friends based in New York and Boston, respectively. Readers will find essays, cultural analysis, recommendations, writing advice, and more.
Elly Belle:
Feelings Soup is a new podcast that will be premiering soon. Conversations will explore how our emotions affect us, and affect how we show up in relationships of all kinds. Follow along on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok… and a Patreon will be dropping soon!
What’s inspiring us?
Anson Tong:
Delia Cai's lovely debut novel Central Places!! Also every single thing Maisie Peters says she needs to stop doing in her song "The List" (stopping excuses and having a real conversation, stopping letting myself down, etc.)
Lexi McMenamin:
Finally making progress on tasks from literally 2022, reading Zenith members’ writing, P-Valley season 2