wearefusion

[wearefusion]

Latest News About Fusion Media Group

For the latest news and announcements from the Fusion Media Group (FMG) visit http://fmg.kinja.com.

FMG, a division of Univision Communications Inc, serves young, diverse audiences with content that reflects their shared values and passions across platforms and languages. 

FMG’s English-language properties include two cable networks, FUSION TV and UCI’s interest in El Rey Network, as well as a collection of leading digital brands that span a range of categories: technology (Gizmodo), comedy and satire (The Onion, Clickhole), sports (Deadspin), pop culture (The AV Club), music (TrackRecord), lifestyle (Lifehacker), women’s interests (Jezebel), news and social justice (Fusion), African American news and culture (The Root), gaming (Kotaku) and car culture (Jalopnik). 

Other assets include Univision.com, the leading Spanish-language website for U.S. Hispanics; Univision Creator Network, a leading U.S. Hispanic focused network of YouTube channels; as well as Univision Story House, a content development and production unit, which produces original content for UCI’s portfolio of owned networks as well as third party networks and platforms. 

For the fourth quarter of 2016, when FMG included all these properties, FMG reached an average of over 65 million unduplicated unique visitors per month in 2016 across its owned digital properties and 90 million when including its network of partner sites.

[wearefusion]

FUSION Recognized with Polk Award for Contributions to Historic Panama Papers Investigation

Long Island University (LIU) has recognized FUSION, along with the partner organizations working with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, with a George Polk Award for its reporting on the Panama Papers. The investigation is being recognized in the financial journalism category. 

The Panama Papers marks one of the largest investigations in journalism history with more than 100 media partners and 400 journalists collaborating on the reporting. The papers are a trove of leaked documents from inside Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm that creates offshore companies to hide financial activities of the rich and powerful. A leak to Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung of 11.5 million documents involving 210,000 companies was shared with CPI’s International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which coordinated investigative work with media partners such as McClatchy, FUSION, The Guardian, Le Monde and others. As one of the few English-language partners in the United States, 

FUSION produced a series of digital reports as well as a one hour documentary "The Naked Truth: Dirty Little Secrets." That reporting is available here.

The Polk Awards honor and celebrate the impact of courageous and authentic journalism on our national and global discourse.

[wearefusion]

Fusion Gives Voice to Those Fighting for ‘Justice Now’ as it Commemorates World Day of Social Justice on February 20

Dedicated Day of Programming will Include Series of Documentaries and Specials as well as Voices from Over 40 Organizations Who Champion Social Justice Issues Everyday

FUSION will commemorate the United Nations’ World Day of Social Justice on Monday, February 20 by recognizing those fighting for social justice issues across the country with a day of dedicated programming entitled ‘Justice Now.’ In addition to special programming, ‘Justice Now’ will highlight and give a voice to individuals from over 40 organizations who work on a range of issues including immigrant rights, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, disability rights, environmental justice, access to education, criminal justice reform, and economic justice. These features will air throughout the day’s programming as well as across the network’s digital and social channels including on Twitter and Facebook.

“Amplifying the voices of the rising mainstream and covering stories that matter to them is core to FUSION’s DNA. At a time where there is so much at stake, it has never been more important that we keep the issues that impact diverse communities and future generations front and center,” said Daniel Eilemberg, President of FUSION. “FUSION is proud to highlight the organizations who share our commitment to sparking dialogue and driving action to help ensure we build a more just and inclusive society for our diverse country.”

“With exclusion and inequality on the rise, we must step up efforts to ensure that all people, without discrimination, are able to access opportunities to improve their lives and those of others,” former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.

Special programming will kick-off @ 6AM on FUSION TV (channel listings) with a range of documentaries and news specials. In primetime FUSION will premiere a special from Jorge Ramos, ‘Show Me Something,’ featuring interviews with former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power and celebrity chef and immigration rights advocate José Andrés. ‘Show Me Something’ will air at 8PM followed by ‘Fusion Presents: Justice Now’ a half-hour series of reports from the diverse voices of FUSION. Additional programming throughout the day will include:

Prison Kids: A Crime Against America’s Children | “Prison Kids” follows the stories of kids who grew up behind bars and exposes the devastating consequences incarceration has on their lives, families and communities.

Hate Rising | This timely film shows the astonishing rise of hate in America through the lens of award-winning news anchor Jorge Ramos. From the Klu Klux Klan to the so called Alt-Right movement, White Nationalists are emboldened by the recent political rhetoric and growing in numbers.

Fightin’ Talk: Muhammad Ali | Muhammad Ali: a champion in the ring and a hero outside it. Guests like Jessie Jackson remember the social justice fighter whose words hit harder than his punches.

Number One with a Bullet | Featuring Ice Cube, Mos Def, Prodigy, KRS-ONE and Young Buck among others, this documentary pulls back the curtain on gun violence in urban America.

Sex Trafficking: Red Light/Green Light | As nations around the globe attempt to fight sex trafficking, many consider legalizing prostitution. Two filmmakers travel across ten countries to explore the issue and address how can we prevent sexual exploitation before it happens.

TASERED: The Israel Hernandez Story | Investigation of the death of an 18 year old Miami artist and the Taser, the ‘non-lethal’ weapon that killed him.

The Naked Truth: Standing Rock | Mark Ruffalo speaks about protests at Standing Rock

The Naked Truth: Women March in D.C | Women have the been the driving force behind some of the biggest mass demonstrations in history. Now Fusion’s “The Naked Truth” reports from The Women’s March on Washington.

‘Justice Now’ is an extension of ‘FUSION Fights,’ a recently announced cross-platform initiative. ‘FUSION Fights’ builds on the network’s commitment to amplify diverse voices in America and the issues that matter most to them. Throughout the year ‘FUSION Fights’ will also include specific calls to action driven by FUSION’s Rise Up social impact unit.

[wearefusion]

‘The A.V. Club’ Hosted by John Teti to Premiere March 16 on FUSION TV

FUSION TV today announced that the first season of 'The A.V. Club' will premiere March 16 @ 9PM. The weekly show will be hosted by The A.V. Club’s editor-at-large John Teti (photo below) and feature the editorial brains behind the iconic pop culture site sharing their distinct perspective on movies, music, television, and more. 

“Last year, my A.V. Club colleagues and I surveyed the media landscape and reached a troubling conclusion: There simply aren’t enough television shows. To remedy that shortfall, we’re taking matters into our own hands,” Teti said in a post today.

The A.V. Club is an entertainment website for pop-culture obsessives, by pop-culture obsessives. Publishing since 1993, The A.V. Club’s videos, reviews, interviews, and features can all be found at AVClub.com.

‘The A.V. Club’ show is produced by Onion Studios. Alicia Haywood, MaryBeth Searls and James Fleischel serve as executive producers. This marks the first series to premiere on FUSION TV from a Fusion Media Group digital brand; last fall the network aired an election special from the editors of The Onion.

“FMG’s collection of digital brands serve young, savvy, and highly engaged audiences -- and now we have a unique opportunity to extend the reach of these leading brands across new platforms,” said Daniel Eilemberg, President of FUSION. “We are excited to bring the passionate, pop culture obsessed voice of The A.V. Club to a broader audience on our FUSION TV network.”

[wearefusion]

FUSION and The Root Join Forces with the Peabody Media Center to Celebrate Black History Month

Series Kicks Off Partnership That Brings Together Award-Winning Content and Diverse Voices to Elevate Important National Issues

FUSION, The Root and the Peabody Media Center have launched a content partnership that will bring Peabody’s rich media archive together with FUSION’s diverse voices to explore issues of contemporary social importance; content will appear across TV and digital platforms.

The first project will celebrate Black History Month in a digital video series that revisits African-American history from several perspectives including: an examination of how race has been a defining feature of the struggle for equality and justice for all of Baltimore’s citizens; black power and creative expression in the civil rights era; and historical documentaries that focus on the rich tapestry of what it's like to be black in America.

The series will be featured throughout February across the digital, social and OTT platforms of FUSION and The Root, the leading news and culture site for African-Americans, and will include contemporary Peabody-winning programming by some of the most creative African-American storytellers working in television today:

“Baltimore: Then & Now” | Baltimore has been a case study of race relations in America since the mid-1950s. The Peabody Media Center revisits its archive for content that demonstrates how the city's conversation about race has evolved over the years, finding that poverty, class and lack of investment in infrastructure have long been key factors in the city's struggles. See the first installment now on The Root and FUSION.net.

“Black Power and Creative Expression” | Both local and national programming provided African-Americans vehicles to express themselves through art and performance. From spoken word performances on productions such as “Tell It Like It Is!” and “Colored People’s Time” to appearances by James Brown and Nina Simone on national TV, the medium captured the voices of a movement.

“Storytellers: Giving African-Americans a Voice” | From obscure entries such as Ossie Davis’ “Slavery” to transformative programs such as “Roots,” a look at the role of African-Americans from behind the lens, featuring conversations with Stanley Nelson and Henry Louis Gates Jr., the co-founder and Chairman of The Root.

“African-American Narratives Today” | Race remains a central talking point in the U.S. and Peabody continually recognizes stories and storytellers that address the issue in innovative, unexpected ways—now it examines a few examples of voices that are changing and continuing the conversation. Segment includes a special conversation with Key & Peele.

Peabody Spotlight is a digital series produced by the Peabody Media Center at the University of Georgia. Each piece draws from the vast Peabody Awards archives, the third largest repository of audio-visual materials in the United States. The Peabody Spotlight will focus on significant societal issues as represented through the storytelling of Peabody winners and finalists, as well as 75 years of broadcasting’s best programming.

[wearefusion]

Covering Stories That Matter + Having Impact

NOTE: This is only a sampling of the recognition FUSION’s reporters and producers have received in 2016. They are a talented bunch!!!!

[wearefusion]

FUSION Nominated for Two GLAAD Media Awards

FUSION received two GLAAD Award nominations this week. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives. 

FUSION was nominated in the Outstanding Digital Journalism category for two reports, one in English and one in Spanish:

Outstanding Digital Journalism - Multimedia

"Willing and Able: Employment as a Transgender New Yorker" by Jordi Oliveres, Santiago García Muñoz / Fusion.net 

Outstanding Digital Journalism - Multimedia (Spanish Language)

"49 poderosas y conmovedoras imágenes de la masacre de Orlando" por Daniel Rivero y David Matthews / Fusion.net (English version)

FUSION’s colleagues at Univision were also nominated in numerous categories. Full list of nominees here.

[wearefusion]

Univision and Fusion Media Group Launch New 'Rise Up for Social Change' Project with American University

Univision, Fusion Media Group and American University’s Center for Media & Social Change Will Produce Research to Shape and Evaluate the Portrayal of Social Issues in Media

Univision, Fusion Media Group (FMG) and American University’s Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) today announced the launch of a new research-based initiative that will shape and evaluate the depiction of key social issues in entertainment media. The project will inform content produced across Univision’s leading Spanish-language broadcast, radio, and digital platforms as well as FMG’s English-language platforms including FUSION TV, The Root, The Onion, among others.

‘Rise Up for Social Change’ at CMSI builds on Univision and FMG’s commitment to create positive social change through its Rise Up social impact unit and builds on CMSI’s track record in research, production and strategy in storytelling designed for social change. CMSI will serve as a research, strategy and evaluation partner on several of Univision and FMG’s grant-funded pro-social storytelling projects, beginning with the following grant-supported cross-platform storytelling initiatives:

Explore the importance of closing the educational achievement gap.

Seek to increase awareness of, and access to, affordable healthcare.

Provide information about reproductive health issues and resources.

Evaluate the effectiveness of media and campaign tactics in getting out the vote in the 2016 election.

The project also includes a 12-month graduate fellowship and student team at CMSI and will be housed at American University’s CMSI, an innovation lab and research center that examines the social influence and impact of entertainment and other mediated storytelling.

CMSI director Caty Borum Chattoo will lead the project. Borum Chattoo, an award-winning social-change communication strategist and media producer, is also a full-time professor who serves in an appointment as executive in residence at American University’s School of Communication, within the Public Communication division. Chad Boettcher, Senior Vice President of Social Impact at Univision and FMG and Managing Director of Rise Up, will serve as the project’s liaison with all Univision and FMG brands, producers, and executives.

ABOUT RISE UP RISE UP is the dedicated social impact unit of Univision and the Fusion Media Group (FMG). RISE UP harnesses the power of media and storytelling to drive positive social change on issues that matter to Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and the increasingly diverse and progressive millennial generation. RISE UP works with like-minded organizations–including foundations, advocacy groups, experts, and government agencies–to develop and execute cross-platform content initiatives and campaign opportunities that tie to the most pressing issues facing the diverse communities of America.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR MEDIA & SOCIAL IMPACT The Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), housed at American University’s School of Communication in Washington, D.C., is an innovation lab and research center that creates, studies, and showcases media for social impact. Focusing on the positive impact of independent, documentary, entertainment and public media, the Center bridges boundaries between scholars, producers and communication practitioners across media production, media impact, public policy, and audience engagement. The Center produces resources for the field and academic research; convenes conferences and events; and works collaboratively to understand and design media that matter. ABOUT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION Based in Washington, D.C., the American University School of Communication offers a comprehensive approach to media practice, production and research, with bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs in Communication Studies, Film and Media Arts, Games, Journalism, and Public Communication. The School of Communication is home to several professional-academic centers, including the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI), Center for Environmental Filmmaking, American University Game Lab, and Internet Governance Lab.SOC.american.edu

[wearefusion]

FUSION Examines 'The Naked Truth' About the Broad Influence and Power of the Fraternity System in the U.S.

‘The Naked Truth: Frat Power’ Premieres Sunday, January 29 @ 8PM

Fraternities have been at the center of many college debates in recent years: sexual assault, binge drinking, hazing and racism. Once a fraternity brother himself, FUSION Correspondent Ryan Nerz spent nearly a year visiting college campuses across the country to investigate the fraternity and sorority system and its broad influence, both on and off campus. For this report, the reporters and producers of ‘The Naked Truth’ pored over thousands of pages of public records and conducted nearly 50 on and off camera interviews with members of Greek organizations, sexual assault survivors, activists, university administrators, lawyers, fraternity consultants, lobbyists and public officials. The one-hour report ‘The Naked Truth: Frat Power’ airs Sunday, January 29 @ 8PM (channel listings). ‘Frat Power’ marks the final installment of the first season of ‘The Naked Truth’ on FUSION TV. 

MORE ON THE NEW REPORT HERE

FUSION’s award-winning investigative team takes a wide-reaching portrait of the broad influence and power of Greek Life:

‘Frat Power’ explores the relationship of Greek life and rape culture. Police records obtained by Fusion reveal that there have been at least 10 alleged rapes in Kansas State University frat houses that were reported to the police in the last five years. We spent time with two K-State students who say they were sexual assaulted in frat houses. These women say the school declined to investigate because they were sexually assaulted in fraternities considered off campus.  A former investigator for the school, in her first televised interview, says she was told to delay sexual assault investigations and upheld a university policy not to investigate off-campus incidents that she believes violates the federal law known as “Title IX.”

FUSION takes viewers to the school with the largest Greek membership in the country: The University of Alabama, where we report on epic partying, a secret society with a dark history and sordid tales of racism, rigged elections on and off campus and sexual misconduct. We spend time with a whistleblowing sorority sister who tells us she tried to change racist practices of the Greek system and faced harsh fallout.

‘Frat Power’ unravels the relationship between Greeks and the government. Collectively Greek organizations have massive real estate holdings, millions of dollars rolling through their bank accounts, and direct lines to the halls of power -- from Wall Street to Washington.  About a quarter of current members of Congress belonged to Greek organizations and almost half of our presidents were once frat brothers. Greeks even have that telltale mark of the formidable Washington player: their own political action committee and lobbyists. We peeled back the layers of the Greek political agenda and sat down with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson for an exclusive conversation about her work to curb hazing on college campuses and what happened when the Greek lobby got involved.

For more on how these organizations operate in Washington, read: ‘What You Should Know About Frat Money and Influence in Washington.’ Scroll through the find out how much money your representative receives from the Greek system’s biggest DC political action committee.

The Real Deal on Frat Real Estate offers an inside look on what it takes to build the majestic Greek house. While ‘The Bizarre Truth About Campus Secret Societies’ gives you the low-down on the most exclusive of these associations and their hidden, and sometimes bizarre, rituals.

[wearefusion]

This ad ran in the January 25, 2017 edition of The New York Times. 

FUSION TV's diverse investigative team has made headlines since the network's launch, winning dozens of awards. FUSION build on that success launching 'The Naked Truth' franchise in January 2016 and won an Alfred I. DuPont Award for their first report, ‘The Naked Truth: Death by Fentanyl.’ 

"They’re young, many first generation immigrants, and overwhelmingly women. It doesn’t look like your typical investigative team and that’s a great strength. I think it differentiates us and the kinds of stories we tell," said Keith Summa, SVP Content and Programming at FUSION, of the network’s investigative production team.

[wearefusion]

“Diversity in Media and Where We Go Next in 2017” -- An Event Hosted by Univision and Fusion in the Nation’s Capital

As we prepared for a major transition of power in Washington DC, Univision and FUSION teamed up to host a critical discussion in our nation’s capital about diversity and representation in media -- and most importantly, where we go next.

Held last Wednesday at the Sofitel Lafayette Square, the event featured a diverse group of journalists from FUSION and The Root who also hold a diverse set of roles at their respective organizations. The conversation was moderated by FUSION TV Correspondent and anchor of “Nightline on Fusion” Kimberly Brooks with contributions from Laura Wides-Munoz, VP of Special Projects and Editorial Strategy at FUSION; Dr. Jason Johnson, Politics Editor at The Root; and Joyce Tang, Managing Editor at FUSION.

Kim led an engaging conversation on diversity in media amongst the panelists and audience members, with observations touching on language use, community involvement, hiring practices, the impact of technology, and more over the course of the hour-long interactive discussion.

On the importance of language

The panelists all agreed that language and the way it is used is critical in ensuring diversity in journalism. “Journalism is all about being accessible to readers,” Joyce Tang noted -- and that accessibility means representing readership diversity appropriately through coverage, perspective, and voice. Part of journalists’ responsibility in connecting to that readership is also to, “in small ways, update and change the way that we talk about people,” she said.  

Jason Johnson added that a linguistic challenge for the media industry going forward is the “need to identify things for what they are and stay consistent in those definitions.”

On different forms of diversity

Jason recalled when a network reporter covering the Ferguson demonstrations in 2014 had assumed the community to be economically depressed, based on his perception of low real estate rental costs. A better understanding of the socioeconomics of the community – that while Ferguson has impoverished areas, the city itself is not particularly poor – would have led to more accurate, representative reporting, he argued. “Sometimes economic diversity and class diversity is as essentially to how we cover these stories especially when it intersects with race and gender,” he said.

On defining “Authentic America”

Jason lamented the romanticizing of the “Midwesten bubble” by “some, not all” media people in the NYC-DC corridor. “We have to stop pretending,” he said, “that somehow certain parts of America are more authentic than the other … it's just that different kinds of people live in different kinds of places.”

On journalism hiring and training

In a conversation around how media companies could build better, more representative newsrooms, all panelists stressed the importance of championing diversity, starting at the very top of organizations, and hiring reporters with a wide-range of perspectives, backgrounds, and abilities.

“We’re missing the true story of our country right now,” Laura Wides-Munoz said. She suggested that we need to look “beyond the journalism students and the people who would already be on a path to a career in the media” and to “reach back into our communities and tap the talent that exists, and be committed to help shaping it.” Laura highlighted FUSION’s own efforts to promote this approach through its “Rise Up Be Heard” fellowship program as an example. In partnership with the California Endowment, FUSION empowered students and community leaders with journalism training and a platform to cover and distribute stories that matter locally.

[wearefusion]

FUSION Announces Winner of 3rd Annual FUSION Doc Challenge at Slamdance Film Festival

Top 12 Finalists Screen Films at Slamdance, ‘Sanctuary’ Named 2016 Doc Challenge Winner

FUSION announced the winner of the 2016 FUSION Doc Challenge at the Slamdance Film Festival this week. The winning film selected by FUSION was ‘Sanctuary’ which profiled an abandoned church that was given an unexpected second chance; ‘Seeking Shelter’ was recognized with an honorable mention. This year marks the third annual FUSION Doc Challenge, which challenges young filmmakers around the world to create short-form documentaries (4-7 minutes) that revolve around the shared values and passions of diverse youth.

The winner receives a cash prize and the top 12 finalists will see their films distributed across FUSION’s television and digital platforms over the next 18 months. Additionally, the finalists will make their Los Angeles premiere at the Audience Awards Film Festival on Friday, April 7 at the El Portal Theatre. The top 12 films, which premiered this weekend at Slamdance, included:

‘Sanctuary’ by Ashley Seering and Cory Byers | An abandoned church is given an unexpected second chance.

‘Seeking Shelter’ by James Goldberg | The City of Los Angeles has one of the largest stray dog populations in the country. ‘Seeking Shelter’ examines the current system in place that's dealing with these dogs, the people fighting to make it better, and the dogs caught in between.

‘The People’ by Fernando Lara | In a time where the citizens of the United States are so divided, this film explores how the people protesting President-elect Donald J. Trump are planning to make their voices heard, while having hope for a brighter future.

‘Cowgirl Up’ by Nathan Willis | A cowgirl from Mississippi pursues her lifelong dream to be the first African-American woman in the National Finals Rodeo.

‘On the Wall, Off the Chain’ by Greg Carlson | Adam Turman is a gentleman in everything he does: bicycles, art, and family.

‘Beacons’ by Whitney Skauge, Drew Daly, Channing Nunn and Taylor Lennox | ‘Beacons’ delves into the thoughts and reactions of six LA-based artists in the aftermath of the historic 2016 presidential campaign.

‘Open Exhibition’ by Bobby McCallen and Tommy Tang | An exploration of Seattle street art that follows painters, stencilers, and taggers to find out what makes the art of graffiti both empowering and controversial.

‘Mo' Freaka’ by Joey Vokac | Jacksonville hip hop artist "MO'FREAKA" recently quit his job at the Lumber Yard in hopes of becoming a globally renown rapper.

‘Rimas’ by Christopher and Kyle Ransom | A visual exploration of the relationship between technology and human connection through the sharing of experiences.

‘Blind Soccer’ by Kai Ho Lee | ‘Blind Soccer’ is a short documentary about a newly formed youth blind soccer team going to China's capital Beijing and competing for the national championship for the first time despite all the difficulties they face in their lives.

‘Astonishing’ by Annalise Pazstor, Mattie Bayne, Mo Thompson and Paul Phou | In the wake of the 2016 election, college students reflect on protest, art and the country’s divide.

‘En Pointe’ by Matthew Kaplowitz | David Baxter is destroying stereotypes by showing that a 6' 3" 280 lb man can be a ballet dancer and burlesque superstar, spreading body positivity through his art.

A full list of films recognized is available here. The films were judged by a panel that included Ben Bryan, Director of Feature Films and Executive Producer at Red Bull Media House; Ken Jacobson, programmer at the Palm Springs International Film Festival where he oversees the documentary lineup; Dersu Rhodes, the Design Director for VICE; Tracy Flannigan, award-winning independent filmmaker; and Dan Gloeckner, an award-winning filmmaker, activist and public speaker.

Filmmakers had five days to produce their films from start to finish; they were able to choose the five days they would like to make their film between August and November. Contestants were given the theme (“You're not going to believe this, but…") and assigned a genre (Biography/Character Study, Historical, Music, Nature/Environmental, Science/Technology, Social Issue/Political, Sports, LGBTQ, Adventure, Art). The FUSION Doc Challenge is run by the Audience Awards on behalf of FUSION.

[wearefusion]

FUSION Goes Behind the Scenes and Into the Streets for 'The Naked Truth: Women March on DC' Airing Sunday @ 8PM

They will come in cars, on planes, by bus and by train. Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on our nation’s capital for the Women’s March on Washington. Billed as the most diverse and inclusive gathering ever, the march is intended to lift up and empower women after a divisive election. Organized around what the leaders named “unity principles,” the goal was recognize that vibrant and diverse communities are the foundation of America and to empower women everywhere to fight misogyny. FUSION’s ‘The Naked Truth’ (@NakedTruth) goes behind the scenes with the organizers, meets the marchers and looks at the impact of similar rallies throughout history. FUSION’s Cleo Stiller reports from the streets of Washington D.C. on what went down at the march and what comes next. ‘The Naked Truth: Women March on DC’ airs Sunday, January 22 @ 8PM on FUSION TV (channel listings). 

[wearefusion]

FUSION Invests in Coverage of Social Justice Issues with New Cross-Platform ‘Fusion Fights’ Content Initiative

New Year-Long Effort Will Include Special Programming on FUSION TV, Enterprise Reporting, and Special Events Around Gender, Environmental, Economic Justice and Civil Rights Issues

‘FUSION Fights’ for Gender Justice Kicks off with Panel Discussion at Davos and Continues with Special Coverage of the Women’s March on Washington

FUSION today announced the launch of ‘FUSION Fights,’ a new cross-platform content initiative that seeks to elevate conversations around social justice issues that impact young, diverse communities, and often don’t receive the media coverage these issues merit. The announcement was made at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.

The effort builds on FUSION’s commitment to covering social justice issues and  will include the production of television, digital, and social content that amplifies the diverse voices in America and the issues that matter most to them. ‘FUSION Fights’ will also include specific calls to action driven by FUSION’s RiseUp social impact unit. ‘FUSION Fights’ will initially focus on the following social justice issues:

FUSION Fights for Gender Justice: This election cycle underscores the need to ensure more women have a strong and equitable voice in shaping our public and private institutions. This cycle highlighted the threats, veiled and unveiled, to women’s health and to the fundamental right to control our own bodies, as well as important subjects like equal pay, paid family leave, and sexual harassment. FUSION fights for these rights, and for the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender identity or sexual preference, to live with dignity, and with the security that all  can afford to care for their families.

FUSION Fights for Economic Justice: Over the last few decades, the gap between the 1% and the rest of the country has grown exponentially. History has demonstrated again and again that nations with such great imbalance struggle to uphold their core democratic principles. As President Barack Obama said in his final address: “if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hard-working white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves.” FUSION fights for basic economic opportunity for all Americans.

FUSION Fights for Civil Rights: The ‘millennial’ generation is the most diverse generation to come of age in our nation’s history and future generations will make the U.S. a majority-minority nation by 2044. FUSION will fight for those championing diversity and inclusivity with coverage around issues of race, immigrant rights, islamophobia, and LGBT rights as well as issues of access and representation like voting rights and redistricting.

FUSION Fights for Environmental Justice: Quite simply, without a healthy earth, the rest of the fights will soon become irrelevant. Too often, though, traditional environmental movements and the media have overlooked the leadership and courage of young, multicultural Americans working to protect our basic, natural resources. FUSION fights for the voices who are working to protect our planet and shines a light on issues including water conservation and access to clean water, animal rights, protection of Native land and national parks, and climate change.

“With so much at stake as a transition of power happens in Washington, FUSION will continue its wide-ranging coverage of social justice issues by amplifying diverse voices and fighting for more substantive conversations on several core issues. We want to spark more dialogue and drive action that will help ensure we build a stronger democracy and more just society for our country’s diverse youth,” said FUSION Co-Presidents Daniel Eilemberg and Boris Gartner.

The ‘FUSION Fight’ for gender justice kicked off with a special panel on gender roles at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos and will continue this month with coverage of the Women’s March on Washington. Ongoing cross-platform coverage of gender justice will include:

EVENTS

‘Disrupting the Status Quo of Gender Roles’ / January 18 in Davos | FUSION TV and Univision will host a panel discussion, ‘Disrupting the Status Quo of Gender Roles,’ at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos. While gender roles are shifting, women still face many barriers to fulfilling their potential. How can we challenge stereotypes and institutional inertia to achieve gender parity within our lifetimes? Enrique Acevedo, Univision news anchor and FUSION TV Special Correspondent, will moderate a discussion with: Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Isabel Saint Malo, Vice President of Panama; Cynthia Castro, Vice-President of Reinventing Business for All (RBA) in Costa Rica; Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, documentary filmmaker; and Robert E. Moritz, Global Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International. The panel will be livestreamed on Facebook and FUSION.net.    

‘What to Do When You’re Expecting the Worst’ / January 19 in Washington DC |  FUSION TV, Jezebel and Fusion.net team up to host a discussion on how the incoming Trump Administration and the new Congress will impact women’s rights in America. ‘What to Do When You’re Expecting the Worst’ will bring together women and men from the political sector, nonprofit world, and journalism community.

‘The Return on Equality’ / January 19 in Davos | Enrique Acevedo, Univision news anchor and FUSION TV Special Correspondent, hosts a conversation ‘The Return on Equality’ featuring Michael Cole-Fontayn, Executive Vice President and Chairman of EMEA, BNY Mellon; Ambassador Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy CEO, UN Foundation; Vivian Riefberg, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company; and Angela Sun, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development, Bloomberg L.P.

FUSION TV

The Naked Truth: Women’s March on D.C. | FUSION’s Cleo Stiller reports from the Women’s March on Washington for a special report. Airs Sunday, January 22 @ 8PM on FUSION TV.

The Woman Card | FUSION’s Alicia Menendez takes a revealing, provocative look at the role gender played in the 2016 election and what takeaways will prove useful under the new Trump administration and Congress. Menendez talks to the women who will be shaping the conversation in the years ahead including Sen. Kamala Harris; Sen. Loretta Sanchez; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY); and former Deputy Campaign Manager, Carly for President, Sarah Isgur Flores. Airs Sunday, January 22 @ 8:30PM on FUSION TV.

O Girls | Oprah Winfrey has changed the lives of hundreds of young women through her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Ten years later, FUSION’s Kimberly Brooks documents the personal journey of five girls from the inaugural class as they graduate college and interviews Oprah about the power education can have to empower young women across the globe. Airs Sunday, January 22 @ 9:30 PM on FUSION TV.

Black Mamas Matter (tentative title) | In a new investigative documentary, produced by the Oscar and Emmy award-winning duo Simon Chinn (‘Man on Wire,’ ‘Searching for Sugar Man’) and Jonathan Chinn (‘American High’), FUSION’s Nelufar Hedayat examines the shocking number of women of color who are dying during, or soon after, giving birth -- all in what is supposed to be the most developed country in the world. Airdate TBA.

No League of Their Own | The conversation surrounding transgender athletes has reached a fever pitch and FUSION seeks to explore the answer to the often asked question: do transgender athletes actually have a competitive advantage? Through professional voices and personal storytelling, the special report ‘No League of Their Own’ examines the debate through interviews with Caitlyn Jenner, 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist and Transgender Advocate; Chris Mosier, Team USA Duathlete; Chloe Anderson Division II Collegiate Volleyball Player; Katrina Karkazis, Senior Research Scholar at the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics; among other experts. Airdate TBA.

Sex Right Now: Bridging the Orgasm Gap | FUSION’s Cleo Stiller takes an informative and entertaining look at: the plight of the sexually voracious woman and what that means for men, as well as life in the burgeoning industry of sex toys made by and designed by women, and why it's practically illegal to say the word 'vagina.' This special is part of an ongoing that explores sex, society and technology in the new America. Airdate TBA.

DIGITAL

‘Wired Women’ | A digital video series will put a spotlight on women and girls kicking-ass in tech, while making the world a little less messed up. The series will be featured across the digital properties of the Fusion Media Group including Fusion, Jezebel, and Gizmodo.

Ongoing Enterprise Reporting | The editors and reporters from FUSION.net take a deep dive into into the impact of the incoming administration and the new Congress on women's health.

Cross-platform content for the ‘FUSION Fights’’ for economic justice, environmental justice, and civil rights will be announced in the coming weeks.

[wearefusion]

FUSION + Univision to Host a Conversation About Diversity in Media & Where We Go Next in 2017

Event to Take Place in Washington DC on January 18 @ 11AM -- details below. 

For more information contact Nicole Wade ([email protected]) or David Ford ([email protected])

[wearefusion]

FUSION Publishing Digital Series ‘How to Survive Trump’s America’

Words matter. Actions matter more. Over the past year we have seen how rhetoric has the power to both deceive and dehumanize. With a new Congress and President-Elect Trump about to enter the White House, FUSION is publishing a series that tackles ten issues that matter to America’s diverse youth — breaking down where President-Elect Trump currently stands on them, the organizations that are actively working to protect and make progress on those issues, and how readers can get engaged in making their voices heard. FUSION’s Anne Branigin writes in the first post: “As Obama said in his final remarks in front of thousands in Chicago Tuesday night, it’s also time to ‘embrace the joyous task’ of fighting for a better, more just country. ‘It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy,’ he said. If you’re a young person, you’re in a prime position to do something. You and your peers make up one-third of the electorate—it’s time to flex that power, and we’re here to help guide you.”

The first three installments of the series cover free speech, immigration, and education. Over the next several days the series will also cover LGBTQ rights, religious freedom, racism, environmental protection, health care, political corruption, and women’s rights. A compilation of these posts will be published and available for download at FUSION.net on January 20.

CHECK OUT ALL THE POSTS HERE.

[wearefusion]

Fusion to Air Special ‘The Naked Truth’ Report on Standing Rock Movement

Special Includes Interview with Actor and Activist Mark Ruffalo

'The Naked Truth: Standing Rock' Reported by FUSION's Nelufar Hedayat Airs Tonight, December 22 @ 10PM

In a new special report ‘The Naked Truth: Standing Rock,’ FUSION takes an in-depth look at the Native American activists who have have been boldly standing up to a large energy company and the government to prevent the construction of an oil pipeline under the Missouri River. After months of protests, as the world watched, the self-described ‘water protectors’ accomplished a momentary victory when the Obama administration announced it will not allow the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) to move forward. Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo, one of the strongest supporters of the #NoDAPL movement, sits down with FUSION’s Nelufar Hedayat to discuss the challenge of transforming a momentary gain into a long-standing victory, considering the potential threats from the incoming Trump administration. “The Naked Truth: Standing Rock” will air Thursday, December 22 @ 10PM on FUSION (channel listings).  

“Corporate and state power has come so close together that people are at a moment where they don’t feel like their voices are being heard. And so the last thing that’s left for us is to assemble, is to gather together and to protest -- or protect,” Ruffalo said to Hedayat.

“People think that Bismarck moved the pipeline because they wanted to protect the white people. In fact what I would tell you is that that’s bullshit,” the Mayor of Bismarck Mike Seminary told FUSION. “The city of Bismarck never was involved in the process… ever. We didn’t have a role in it.”

“It’s my home. It’s my water. My home is right there - my house on the hill. My son is buried there. My father is buried there. Who would put a pipeline next to your son’s grave?,” Ladonna Brave Bull Allard told FUSION.