Photograph by Anna Lisa Haughwout
About MCN
The McKeesport Community Newsroom has since 2019 provided opportunities for interested residents of the Mon Valley to learn and strengthen their writing and visual storytelling skills for the benefit of all.
Our mission is to document the local and personal stories that illuminate and celebrate the rich and varied lives of a region that is currently underserved by mainstream media outlets.
Our programs are open to young and older adults and explore storytelling across media formats including print and Internet reporting, photography, audio and broadcast reporting and more. We meet regularly at the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport, throughout the community and online. Our work has been published in the Mon Valley Independent and online.
Photographer and educator Martha Rial is the program director.
Tube City Writers
Tube City Writers is a drop-in writers’ group held once a month at Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport for anyone interested in improving their communication and writing skills and writing about their community. The sessions are free and are open to all ages and experience levels. No advance registration required.
Contact mckeesportcommunitynewsroom@gmail.com for more information.
Photograph by Emily Matthews
Mon Valley Photography Collective
Our photography collective is comprised of photography enthusiasts of ages and levels of experience. We offer feedback through group critiques workshop opportunities to learn new skills, and photography outings to build community.
Please contact mckeesportcommunitynewsroom@gmail.com to learn how you can get involved.
Visiting Professionals
The McKeesport Community Newsroom welcomes professional journalists from print, broadcast and digital media to discuss their work as part of our ongoing speaker series at the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport. We also host workshops with authors, podcasters, and other content providers that allow program participants to learn more about a wide range of media formats.
Photograph by Steve Mellon
Youth Media
Mentoring students who volunteer as writers and editors with the McKeesport Area High School’s Red & Blue student newspaper and creating opportunities for them to connect with professional journalists is a special initiative of newsroom co-founder Martha Rial. Program highlights include an annual Youth Media Summer Camp at the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport, where teens can experience and experiment with various media formats.