From April 22 through April 26, Prism is observing “Prism On Pause,” an annual organization-wide break where we log out of Slack, close our laptops, and step away from our desks for a week of rest.

Countering “rise and grind” and productivity culture, we believe that rest is essential to us as a newsroom led by journalists of color and that by fully embracing policies like the 32-hour, 4-day work week, we can thrive both in and out of the workplace. Traditional outlooks on work culture within the journalism industry, in particular, hold little regard for either rest or thoughtful pauses. As we noted in our Prism On Pause announcement last year, as a BIPOC-led newsroom, “we’re a team of people who come from the communities we report on. This means we are acutely aware of the trauma of living in systems of oppression and the toll it takes on our bodies and minds. Tending to our mental and physical health is more than a privilege or luxury—it is imperative to sustaining the rigor and care that our journalists, readers, and larger community need.”

We hope that our policies will inspire other organizations to do the same. As we believe that no independent newsroom survives alone, we are grateful for our readers’ support. We invite you to consider joining us as a member to continue supporting our journalism. Your membership will not only help sustain our work but also contribute to Prism’s larger mission and vision of collective liberation and justice for people and communities who are historically oppressed. 

Another world and another way are possible! See you upon our return.