COLORLINES - Jorge Rivas

Jorge Rivas

Multimedia Editor / Pop Culture Blogger
Los Angeles, CA

Jorge Rivas is multimedia editor and pop culture blogger for Colorlines.com. A firm believer in the power of visual communications to inform and move people into action, Jorge uses multimedia presentations to help readers build stronger connections to stories. Jorge has covered the public housing crisis in a post-Katrina New Orleans, the effects of deportation on families, and brought live images of the President Obama's inauguration to Colorlines.com readers.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jorge started in broadcast as an intern at the age of 16 and since worked in the entertainment industry and on international advertising campaigns. Jorge received his B.A. in Raza Studies from San Francisco State University where he studied immigration, healthcare perspectives and the interrelationship of culture, community, and the internet. Prior to joining Applied Research Center (ARC) and Colorlines.com in 2005, Rivas worked on a living wage campaign in Brooklyn, NY through the Minority Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP).

Jorge uses his media and ethnic studies background to deconstruct representation of people of color in pop culture, illustrating how pop culture can shape opinions, perceptions and even public policy. Jorge's work has appeared on Elle.com, Essence.com, Racialicious, The Root, Alternet, and Feministing.

Check out Jorge's media appearances here.

Follow Jorge on Twitter at @thisisjorge.

Jon Stewart Takes on Rick Scott’s Voter Suppression in Florida [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 1:14PM

Check out the ‘Florida’ tag page to get the latest on voter suppression in Florida.

Topics: /NOW, Politics

TIME Mag’ New Immigration Cover Story: ‘We Are Americans - Just Not Legally’

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 12:55PM

Jose Antonio Vargas is on the cover of the new issue of TIME Magazine.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW

A Guide to the U.S.’ Worst Restaurants for Workers

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 12:35PM

A guide to America’s worst restaurants for workers.

Topics: Economy, /NOW

Police Chief Defends Detaining Teen’s Mother After Neighbor’s Fatal Shot

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 11:15AM

After a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in front of his Milwaukee home last month, police forced his grieving mother to sit in a squad car for more than an hour rather than let her hold her dying son or join him at the hospital.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW

‘Obama Boy’ Has a Crush on the President, R&B Style

by Jorge Rivas on June 13 2012, 5:40PM

“Hey Barry, It’s me.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW

High School Senior Sings His Way Off UMich’s Admission Wait List

by Jorge Rivas on June 13 2012, 2:42PM

High school senior Lawrence Yong from Los Angeles just sang himself off the admissions waitlist at the University of Michigan.

Topics: /NOW, Schools & Youth

Johnson & Johnson Becomes 19th Company to Withdraw Support From ALEC

by Jorge Rivas on June 13 2012, 1:28PM

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson announced Tuesday that it would no longer fund the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Topics: /NOW, Politics

Finally, a Satire Film About Being a Black Face in a White Place is in the Works

by Jorge Rivas on June 13 2012, 1:24PM

“Dear White People” is a satire about being a black face in a white place.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW

Mayor Bloomberg to Black Church: ‘Stop-and-Frisk’ Is Here to Stay

by Jorge Rivas on June 13 2012, 12:12PM

Just after citing Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech the Mayor told the congregation at the First Baptist Church of Brownsville that ‘stop-and-frisk’ should be “mended, not ended.”

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW

New York Times Looks at the Scars of Stop-and-Frisk [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on June 13 2012, 11:04AM

On the heels of a silent march this coming Sunday, The New York Times has published a short documentary film on the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policing program.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW

George Zimmerman’s Wife Arrested, Charged with Perjury

by Jorge Rivas on June 12 2012, 4:58PM

Wife of Trayvon Martin’s shooter accused of lying to a judge about their finances during his bond hearing.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW

‘TRUST Act’ Legislation to Reform ‘Secure Communities’ Advances in California Senate

by Jorge Rivas on June 12 2012, 4:55PM

On Tuesday, by a vote of 5 to 2, the California State Senate’s Public Safety Committee approved the new version of AB 1081, also known as the TRUST Act.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW

The DREAM Act Video Everyone Needs to See

by Jorge Rivas on June 12 2012, 4:42PM

Director Eliot Rausch’s short film “Limbo” captures deeply personal moments from three DREAMers telling their own stories.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW

Oprah Asks 50 Cent Why He Said ‘She Caters to Older White Women’

by Jorge Rivas on June 12 2012, 12:38PM

On Sunday’s episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter” host Oprah Winfrey confronted 50 Cent with a long list of heavy duty questions.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW

California Lawmakers Propose Changes to Deportation Program

by Jorge Rivas on June 12 2012, 12:09PM

California lawmakers will decide Tuesday whether to set strict limits on how local law enforcement agencies participate in a controversial federal immigration program, Secure Communities.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW

75-Year-Old Milwaukee Man Kills Black Teen In Front of Boy’s Mother

by Jorge Rivas on June 12 2012, 9:35AM

A 75-year-old Milwaukee man pleaded not guilty Monday in the fatal shooting of his 13-year-old neighbor.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW

Judge OKs Using L.A. Student Test Scores for Teacher Job Reviews

by Jorge Rivas on June 11 2012, 5:28PM

A Los Angeles judge has issued a tentative ruling and ordered the L.A. Unified School District to use student achievement in reviewing instructors. L.A. Times has more details on today’s ruling: L.A. County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant upheld…

Topics: /NOW, Schools & Youth