The history of prison-run newspapers and why they're on the rise
NPR, March 30, 2023: The history of prison-run newspapers and why they're on the rise
“NPR's Juana Summers speaks with Ryan Moser, a writer formerly incarcerated in Florida, and Kate McQueen of the Prison Journalism Project, about the rise of newspapers published in prisons.
“JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: Since the 1800s, people inside of U.S. prisons have printed their own newspapers and run their own newsrooms. These efforts are collectively known as the prison press.
“KEVIN SAWYER: The newspaper gives the incarcerated a voice.
“SUMMERS: That's Kevin Sawyer, who spoke to us from inside San Quentin State Prison. He is the former associate editor of that prison's newspaper, the San Quentin News.
“SAWYER: When I came to prison, I started writing stories, poems and journals. None of that stuff was published. So when I arrived at San Quentin, I discovered there was a newspaper here, and that's how I got involved.
“SUMMERS: And despite the huge decline of newspapers nationwide in recent decades, the number of publications run by incarcerated people is actually on the rise. That's according to a new study by the Prison Journalism Project. Kate McQueen is a managing editor there who helps to publish the work of incarcerated journalists.”
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