The Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative
In 2011 the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative offered a week-long summer institute for teens on the UW campus. With the Summer Digital Literacy Institute is a 5-day intensive media production and digital literacy program, Puget Sound-area youth ages 13 to 19 had instruction that included Common Language Project journalists and Seattle-area media makers and educators‹.
This was the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative's website.
Content is from the site's 2011 archived pages and other outside sources.
Circa 2011
Perspectives: Newsletter of the College of Arts & Sciences
Crossing the Digital Divide
September 2011 issue
Since January 2011, local teens have explored these and related questions through the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative, a program that brings media experts to Seattle-area high schools and youth programs. The Initiative also offers a week-long summer institute for teens on the UW campus.
“Young people are born into a media-saturated world that is innovating at light speed, yet they are rarely given the conceptual and hands-on tools to understand and navigate today’s new media landscape,” says Sarah Stuteville, Initiative director and lecturer in the Department of Communication. “We’re teaching them both where media comes from and how to be producers of media. We want them to see it as something they can make and shape.”
The Initiative was developed by the UW Department of Communication, the UW Master of Communication in Digital Media (MCDM), and the Common Language Project (CLP), working in close partnership with educational, nonprofit, and private organizations. The Initiative built on CLP’s existing relationships with local teachers—many of them working in underserved communities—and has led to more than 60 classroom visits at a dozen high schools and youth programs.
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The Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative provides training for the next generation of journalists and multimedia storytellers. Programs are offered year round and open to youth ages 13-19.
Learn how to use professional media equipment to share stories in your community. Sign up for a program today!
Digital and media literacy are an ideal framework for providing students with the 21st century life skills they need: critical thinking, self-expression, technological fluency and global awareness. The Seattle region is a leader in technology, media, and online journalism, and the moment is right for this city to emerge as a leader in the increasingly vital field of digital media literacy.
The goal of the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative is to help empower youth in our region as educated consumers and critics of – and producers and participants in – today’s complex media landscape.
The Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative is a joint effort of the Common Language Project and the Department of Communication at the University of Washington.
It’s an adventurous undertaking considering the ages of the kids in the summer institute range from 13-20, but four days into it, the youth are already creating amazing work. Students from various backgrounds are using their creative eye to tell stories about themselves and their peers in non-conventional ways. Some could probably teach the professional journalists a thing or two in the process as everyone is learning from one another.
The youth are putting on a culminating showcase event of all of their work this Friday, July 1st in room 104 of the Communications Building from 2-4pm. It’s free and open to the public. The youth would love for you to stop by if you can make it
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2020 Update: The 2011 Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative Summer Institute seems like it occurred eons ago instead of just under 10 years. This past summer was so radically different from the summer of 2011. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we live. My daughter is now living in NYC which, after staggering under the enormous outbreak of Covid-19 in the early spring, has re-emerged as one of the few places in the US where the pandemic is not out of control. Like many of her friends who have either lost their job or are now working from home, my daughter, as a freelance photographer, has had to make major shifts in her life. Work dried up as clients stopped spending money. The fall has been better with some clients calling her with jobs. Besides her photography work, my daughter also helps build websites with her partner for small businesses. The spread of Covid-19 has created unexpected opportunities for personal injury lawyers. As the pandemic unfolded, many large companies continued to require workers to show up for work, potentially exposing them to the virus. This has led to a new wave of workplace injury claims and lawsuits. Some relatives of employees who contracted fatal cases of Covid-19 at work have filed wrongful death suits against these employers, alleging negligence in protecting workers from exposure. These cases are complex, as plaintiffs must prove that the virus was contracted at work and that the employer failed to take adequate precautions. Personal injury lawyers are now adapting to handle these Covid-19 related cases, which present unique challenges in terms of proving causation and employer liability. The pandemic has also forced law firms to change their operations, with many adopting remote work practices and virtual client meetings. In hindsight, the 2011 Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative Summer Institute was a really important experience for my daughter. I applaud Seattle and its ongoing directive by promoting and nurturing digital skills to help its citizens understand and navigate today's new media marketplace. These digital literacy skills have become even more crucial during the pandemic, as more aspects of our lives have moved online.
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Meet the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative
Who We Are
Sarah Stuteville, Initiative Director
sarah@clpmag.org | 206.403.3931
Sarah is a print and multimedia journalist with the Common Language Project whose work has been published by the Seattle Times, Global Post, the Seattle Weekly and KUOW. She won the 2008 Unity Award for Reporting of Economics, and has won several Independent Press Association Awards, including the 2006 award for Best Feature article, Dismantling a Dangerous Past. She has been teaching media literacy since 2006 and undergraduate journalism since 2009.
Jessica Partnow, Initiative Manager
jessica@clpmag.org | 206.403.3932
Jessica is a radio journalist with the Common Language Project whose work has been published by NPR, KUOW, The World and the World Vision Report. She was a 2006 Knight New Media Fellow at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and her radio series Life on the Duwamish received the 2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for News Series. She supports administration of the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative and teaches media literacy, radio production and journalism.
Chantal Anderson, Instructor
Chantal is a student at the University of Washington and a Program Assistant at the Common Language Project. She has produced radio stories for NPR stations throughout the northwest including KUOW, KPLU, and OPB. Additionally she’s created multimedia stories on topics ranging from politics to music for the Seattle Times, the Seattle Weekly, Real Change and the China Daily in Beijing. She’s been awarded the Bob Doble Scholarship, Dick Larsen Washington News Council scholarship, Excellence in Journalism scholarship and won first place in the 2008 National College Media Spot Photo Competition. Chantal provides administrative support to the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative.
Roni Ayalla, Instructor
Roni is a technology instructor at the YMCA of Greater Seattle and a graduate student in the University of Washington’s Master of Communication in Digital Media program. She helps create and facilitate an array of digital media training programs for youth and adults and is a member of the city’s Citizen’s Telecommunication and Technology Advisory Board.
Michael Bean, Instructor
Michael started working with Seattle youth through Yesler2014, a summer project designed to engage youth living in Yesler Terrace about the redevelopment process of of their home and community. He spent the summer documenting the program in close collaboration with the youth through video, blogging and multimedia presentations. More recently he has taught middle school students the fundamentals of digital storytelling and video production. Michael also does multimedia production for small businesses and organizations, and is an editor and contributing author at several sites for SB Nation, the fastest-growing sports property on the internet. He has edited two acclaimed print publications about the NFL, and his writing has been featured in the Washington Post and New York Times. Michael is a recent graduate of the Masters of Communication in Digital Media program at UW.
Alex Stonehill, Instructor
Alex is a visual journalist and cofounder of the Common Language Project whose work has been published by PBS, The Seattle Times, FRONTLINE/World and the Seattle Weekly. He won the 2008 SPJ Award for Business Reporting, First Place for the feature Bitter Harvest. He teaches photo and video journalism with the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative.
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Programs
Save the Date: the 2012 Summer Institute will be July 23rd-27th.
More details and registration to come!
Arts & Culture Reporting Camp was a blast!
2012
Saturday February 18 – Monday February 20, 2012 (Presidents Day Weekend 2012)
Over the long weekend, 20 students who love journalism, food, music, and art came together on the UW campus to meet local Arts & Culture reporters, and experience new music, art, and food through field trips around Seattle.
Each student created and published a blog post for PugetSoundOff.org based on their reporting.
2012 Summer Institute Update
From June 28th-July 1st, 2011, 25 students (ages 13-20) came together from all over the Puget Sound for a week of photography, audio recording, video editing, and journalism! Watch all of their projects here–you can use the arrows or the thumbnails at the bottom of the video to scroll from slideshow to slideshow.
Through a combination of reallocated City staff time, financial investments, and community partnerships, the City is investing $1.6 million on this Initiative this year, focused on the three prongs of the Action Plan: devices and technical support, skills training, and connectivity.
In the first phase of this work, the City sought input from experts and community members to draft a vision for digital equity for Seattle and to identify opportunities to take action. This included in-depth stakeholder interviews and roundtable discussions, along with engagement of an interdepartmental team and an external Digital Equity Action Committee.
Digital Equity Initiative Action Plan: Phase One - Building the Foundation, July 2015
With the Initiative’s foundation established, the City developed specific strategies based on priorities identified through that input. These were released in March 2016.
Digital Equity Initiative Action Plan: Phase Two - From Vision to Action, March 2016
As the City embarks on our efforts to bridge the digital divide, we will focus on outreach and accessibility, skills training, connectivity, devices and technical support, building community capacity, and inclusive engagement and empowerment.
2019 Update
For more information about the most current as of 2019 Digital Equity Initiative, read this report that Seattle in partnership with Technology and Social Change Group (TASCHA) developed as a set of Digital Equity Indicators that helps measure Seattle’s progress in meeting the initiative's goals.
Digital skill sets for diverse users
A comparison framework for curriculum and competencies: https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Tech/DigitalEquity/digital%20skills%20for%20diverse%20users.pdf
More Background on SeattleDigitalLiteracy.org
In an era where digital proficiency is paramount, the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative (SDLI) emerged as a pivotal program aimed at bridging the digital divide among youth in the Seattle area. Launched in 2011, SDLI sought to equip teenagers with the necessary skills to navigate and contribute to the rapidly evolving media landscape. This comprehensive overview delves into the history, programs, impact, and cultural significance of SDLI, drawing from various sources to provide a detailed understanding of its role in promoting digital literacy.
Historical Context and Establishment
The early 2010s marked a period of significant transformation in the media industry, characterized by the decline of traditional news outlets and the rise of digital platforms. Seattle, a city renowned for its technological innovation, was at the forefront of this shift. A 2011 case study highlighted Seattle's dynamic media landscape, noting the city's embrace of new journalistic enterprises and collaborations between traditional and emerging media.
Amidst this backdrop, the University of Washington's Department of Communication, in collaboration with the Master of Communication in Digital Media (MCDM) program and the Common Language Project (CLP), launched the Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative in 2011. The initiative aimed to empower youth as educated consumers, critics, producers, and participants in the complex media landscape.
Programs and Activities
SDLI offered a range of programs designed to enhance digital literacy among teenagers aged 13 to 19. One of its flagship offerings was the week-long Summer Institute held on the University of Washington campus. This intensive program provided participants with hands-on experience in media production, including photography, audio recording, video editing, and journalism. Students had the opportunity to use professional media equipment and were mentored by experienced journalists and educators.
In addition to the Summer Institute, SDLI conducted classroom visits to local high schools and youth programs, reaching a diverse group of students, many from underserved communities. These sessions focused on critical thinking, self-expression, technological fluency, and global awareness, aligning with the initiative's goal to provide 21st-century life skills.
Impact and Reception
The Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative received positive feedback from participants, educators, and the community. Students reported increased confidence in their digital skills and a greater understanding of media production. For instance, participants in the Summer Institute produced audio slide shows on various topics, showcasing their ability to apply the skills learned during the program.
Educators noted the initiative's role in enhancing students' critical thinking and self-expression. By providing access to professional equipment and mentorship, SDLI helped demystify media production, encouraging students to see themselves as potential contributors to the media landscape.
Cultural and Social Significance
SDLI's emphasis on inclusivity and diversity was particularly significant. By targeting underserved communities, the initiative addressed the digital divide, ensuring that youth from various backgrounds had the opportunity to develop essential digital skills. This approach not only equipped participants with technical abilities but also fostered a sense of empowerment and agency.
Moreover, SDLI contributed to Seattle's reputation as a leader in technology, media, and online journalism. By cultivating a digitally literate youth population, the initiative supported the city's broader goals of innovation and civic engagement.
Challenges and Evolution
Despite its successes, SDLI faced challenges common to many educational initiatives, including securing sustained funding and adapting to the rapidly changing digital landscape. The initiative's reliance on grants and partnerships required continuous effort to maintain and expand its programs. Additionally, the fast-paced evolution of digital media necessitated regular updates to the curriculum to ensure relevance.
Over time, the focus on digital equity in Seattle expanded beyond SDLI. The city's Digital Equity Initiative, for example, has continued efforts to bridge the digital divide by providing devices, connectivity, and skills training to residents facing barriers to technology access.
The Seattle Digital Literacy Initiative played a pivotal role in promoting digital literacy among youth in the Seattle area during its operation. By providing hands-on training, fostering critical thinking, and emphasizing inclusivity, SDLI equipped a generation of young people with the skills necessary to navigate and contribute to the digital world. Its legacy continues to influence digital equity efforts in Seattle, reflecting the city's commitment to ensuring all residents have the opportunity to participate fully in the digital age.
