CatchLight Visual Storytelling Summit "The Change We Want To See"

The non-profit media organization CatchLight will hold its 2023 Visual Storytelling Summit on the theme “The Change We Want to See”. The event will feature presenters and topics spanning artificial intelligence imagery, reporting on environmental issues, reproductive rights, racial justice, and how local journalists are holding power accountable at a time when trust in public institutions is at an all-time low. CatchLight Global and Local Fellows—including Rafael Vilela and Harika Maddala, among others—will discuss their projects along with artists, founders, technologists, and innovative creatives working at the nexus of art, media, journalism, technology, and social impact. The theme “The Change We Want to See” reflects the unique power of photography, visual journalism, and creative practices to drive social impact. “Images are instrumental to how we understand our world,” says Elodie Mailliet Storm, CEO of CatchLight. “Not only do they connect people emotionally to issues, they also promote deeper understanding, build trust, and spark action. I want the Summit to be a place where the global community of visual storytellers, media, and technology leaders can gather, share ideas, and push the field forward through partnership and innovation.” Speakers will include Jonas Bendiksen, Adrian Burrell, Pamela Chen, Hany Farid, Isadora Kosofsky, Lynn Johnson, Sarahbeth Maney, Anastasia Samoylova, Ashima Yadava, Alexey Yurenev. SUMMIT INFO The Summit will be held at Minnesota Street Project for an in-person audience. Admission is free. Recordings of each discussion will be available for viewing after the Summit. Minnesota Street Project 1275 Minnesota St, San Francisco, CA 94107 SCHEDULE 1 pm - Check-in 2 pm-5 pm - Panel Discussions 5 pm-6 pm - Happy hour PROGRAM Synthetic Imagery: Opportunity and Threat Jonas Bendiksen x Pamela Chen x Hany Farid x Alexey Yurenev Artificial intelligence and machine learning are emerging from obscurity as powerful tools for the masses. We are now experiencing a monumental paradigm shift in how we create, consume, and validate visual information. What could it mean for the photographers and visual artists whose proprietary works are feeding the machine? How do we prevent the weaponization of these technologies for disinformation? As we adapt to this new era, what opportunities and challenges lie ahead for visual professionals? Picturing New Frontiers: Environmental Storytelling Anastasia Samoylova x Rafael Vilela As extreme weather, mass extinctions, and climate displacement make headlines worldwide, photographers and visual artists can play powerful roles in refocusing conversations and unlocking new possibilities. From revealing what is at stake to inspiring imaginations about sustainable futures, visuals allow ideas and movements to travel farther. Navigating Care: Empathy in Image-Making Lynn Johnson x Isadora Kosofsky What does it mean to honor a person’s dignity through photography? Building trust is essential when documenting individuals and communities with sensitive stories, as is ensuring that the images are used with integrity. Truth and Power: Local Visual Journalism and Public Accountability Harika Maddala x Sarahbeth Maney Trust in public institutions remains at historic lows, and confidence in mass media continues in a downward trend. Two photojournalists will explore in conversation how they are leveraging their craft to restore trust in local media while holding public officials in their communities accountable to their constituents. ‘Huq: I Seek No Favor’ - 50 artists respond to the abortion ban Ashima Yadava On January 22, 1973, a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade protected the right to abortion. Fifty years later, the precedent has been overturned. Ashima Yadava invited 50 artists to respond in a book of their works entitled, Huq: I seek no favor. Adrian Burrell How can we heal from the past and summon the future? Burrell’s short films, Game Gods and The Saints Step in Kongo Time, examine the extractive, unjust relationship between capitalism and Blackness.

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Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/1593872-0

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