Communication technology is advancing faster than ever in our digital world, so why is the Pitt's Center for Creativity and University Library System so excited about the arrival of a printing press from the 1960s? In this episode, we invite a community of printmakers, newspaper editors, and researchers to learn about the ways print has given those who have been systematically marginalized the power to center their own voices and empower each other. Thanks again to our guests, Justin Jones, Gina Watkins, Megan Massenelli, Rob Taylor, Haylee Ebersole, and Kyrie Bushaw.   

Processing... is a production of the Center for Creativity at the University of Pittsburgh. Many thanks also this season to our partners at the University Library System as well as Archives & Special Collections. More information about the new Text & conText Lab can be found at creative.pitt.edu/text-context-lab  

In this episode   

• 02:54 How historic publications can fit different needs 
• 10:02 Print as a revolutionary experience 
• 13:27 Pitt student activism against anti-LGBT+ bigotry 
• 17:04 How the pandemic has changed print media 

External Links:  

• The story of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, two former enslaved men who fought back against scapegoating during an outbreak of yellow fever in 1793 Philadelphia (as well as some other amazing stories of Black writers and the letterpress) https://ilovetypography.medium.com/black-print-early-african-american-print-culture-b4a106dea9db 
• The New Pittsburgh Courier’s centering on African American Pittsburgh https://newpittsburghcourier.com/  
• Meshwork Press’ Youth Programming https://meshworkpress.com/pages/youth-programming  
• Blackline Magazine’s new fully digital space https://blackline-magazine.squarespace.com/  
• ULS Archives and Special Collections: https://www.library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections 
• Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions: sessions.blue