Staged News: The Federal Theatre Project's Living Newspapers in New York

In 1935, a group of journalists and theater artists collaborated to produce the Living Newspapers, six theatrical productions that covered public issues such as affordable housing, the Dust Bowl, and labor law. This innovative form of journalism reached hundreds of thousands of spectators and inspired adaptations across the country, highlighting marginalized newsmakers and challenging the parameters of public knowledge. Staged News explores how this theatrical form emerged from a changing news landscape and reimagined what journalism could do for democratic change.

Format: Hardback
Length: 168 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2023
Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press

In 1935, a remarkable collaboration unfolded between a group of journalists and theater artists, fueled by funds from the Federal Theatre Project (FTP), a Depression-era employment initiative established by President Roosevelt's New Deal. Their mission? To produce news for the theatrical stage. Over the next four years, this New York-based team, known as the Living Newspapers, embarked on an ambitious creative journey, creating six groundbreaking productions. These Living Newspaper productions, covering a wide range of public issues such as affordable housing, the struggles of Dust Bowl farmers, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and labor law, reached hundreds of thousands of spectators, sparking adaptations across the country.

Staged News delves into the intricate process and diverse repertoire of the Living Newspaper, exploring how journalists' perceptions of their profession shifted during this time. Jordana Cox highlights the contributions of marginalized newsmakers, particularly Black artists, who pushed the boundaries of public knowledge and challenged prevailing notions of newsworthiness. This timely analysis unveils how a vital theatrical form emerged from a transforming news landscape, reimagining the potential of journalism to empower individuals seeking democratic change.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781625346803