Writing, Storytelling, and Scholarship
I started my career working with non-profit journalism and culture organizations, including as an editor for Clamor, an award winning non-profit, independent politics and culture magazine based in Ohio.
My writing, critical essays and scholarship explores how pop culture and social technology shapes identity and builds community. My writing’s been featured in The Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Reader, Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, Uncanny Magazine, Prism, Time Out, and Paste. I am the publisher and co-founder of The Learned Fangirl, a frequently-cited fandom studies and pop culture publication.
I’ve taught classes at Storystudio Chicago and Northwestern University. and my independent scholarship has been published in Teaching Artist Journal, Pace Law Review and the book “The Good Life in Asia’s Digital 21st Century” (2016) published by Digital Asia Hub.
I’ve been interviewed about media and pop culture for Chicago Public Radio, WGN Radio – Chicago and KPCC Radio – Southern California and spoken at conferences including Pop Culture Association of the South Annual Conference, Experience Music Project Pop Conference, Experience Music Project Pop Conference, and the Media in Transition conference at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
I’ve also performed essays at Chicago live lit and storytelling events including 20 X 2 Chicago, Miss Spoken and Tuesday Funk.
Digital Strategy and Accessibility
I have developed and taught webinars and on-site workshops on digital strategy, including Public Narrative, Springboard Foundation, and Axelson Center for Non-Profit Management. I’ve also worked as an adjunct instructor for DePaul University and Northwestern University. I worked with the Cultural Pulse Project at Cultural Engagement Lab (formerly Citizen Engagement Lab), connecting non-profits and organizers with online fan communities to organize for social change through pop culture storytelling. co-organized a monthly Twitter chat called #PopPoliticsChat, and organized training and coaching calls for participating organizations.
I’m also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) from International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
Keidra Chaney 