AddThis SmartLayers

Charity launches regional publication aimed at migrant communities

A team of budding citizen journalists from migrant communities have created a regional publication to celebrate Black History Month.

The group of mature students from Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall have launched an online magazine called Beyond, which looks at the achievements and struggles of migrants and members of the black community in the West Midlands.

The group, supported by charity Migrant Voice, began media training last year have spent the last 12 months developing their journalism skills to amplify voices in migrant communities.

Those who produced the magazine hail from places including Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the West Indies.

Beyond

In a welcome message in the magazine, co-editor Althia Barnett wrote: “Some of us, like myself, had no previous media experience and struggled with even the most basic technology, yet here I am writing a welcome message in an online magazine.

“Having attended Media Labs and newsroom sessions, made new friends and had the opportunity to learn about photography, filmmaking, copywriting, social media, and journalism skills over the last year and a half, together we now bring you our first magazine, and one which celebrates Black voices, Black talent and Black experiences.”

Media training workshops for the team were provided by charity Migrant Voice as part of the MiFriendly Cities project, an initiative developing innovative approaches to enhancing the contribution of refugees and migrants in the West Midlands.

Farizai Dzemwa, originally from Zimbabwe, was a sub-editor for the magazine.

She said: “Watching and being part of a team that made the magazine dream come true was exhilarating.

“Balancing home, work and the production of the magazine is something that I had doubted initially. But I can safely say that with passion, drive and the right kind of direction, possibilities are unlimited.”

The magazine can be found here.