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.

President Obama Wishes Everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 4:55PM

The President and First Lady send their best wishes to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Aretha Franklin Calls off Her Wedding

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 4:28PM

On January 2nd Aretha Franklin announced she and her long time partner William ‘Willie’ Wilkerson were engaged to be married but on Monday the Queen of Soul announced the engagement is off.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Alabama Students Prep Week Long Actions Against HB56 [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 3:25PM

A group of college students in Birmingham, Alabama are organizing “A Week of Direct Action Against HB 56” that will run from Jan. 30 through Feb. 3.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Caller Confuses Sherri Shepherd and Yvette Nicole Brown for Octavia Spencer On Live TV [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 1:33PM

Yvette Nicole Brown and Sherri Shepherd of the “The View” say they get confused for Octavia Spencer all the time. Now there’s proof.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

‘Mosquita y Mari’ World Premiere at Sundance a ‘Smashing Sucess’

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 1:08PM

“Mosquita y Mari” had its world premiere Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival to a packed house.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

‘Red Tails’ Comes in Second, Scores $19 Mil. at Weekend Box Office

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 11:09AM

Lucas’ film that chronicles WWII’s African-American Tuskegee airmen debuted with a strong opening.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

For the Record: George W. Bush is the Real ‘Food Stamp President’

by Jorge Rivas on January 23 2012, 10:53AM

Newt Gingrich claims that “more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history.” He’s wrong.

Topics: Newt Gingrich, /NOW Blog

Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More than Marriage Equality [Report]

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 6:12PM

Center for American Progress released a new report on black gay and transgender communities and why the focus should be on more than just marriage.

Topics: Colorlines Press, Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

Just One in Six Deportations Cancelled in Obama’s Pilot Review

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 5:05PM

The pilot deportation review Obama ordered last year in Denver is done. 7,900 cases reviewed, and 1,300 people had their deportation cases dropped.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Could Protect Latino and Black Borrowers

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 4:27PM

Discriminatory housing practices are one reason why our country needs a strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Congress Postpones SOPA and PIPA Until ‘Wider Agreement’

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 1:30PM

Two days after massive internet protests, lawmakers on Friday indefinitely postponed anti-piracy legislation SOPA and PIPA.

Topics: Media, /NOW Blog

Rick Perry’s Real Legacy? His 2011 Executions (A Dance Video)

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 1:12PM

In honor of Texas Governor Rick Perry executing his presidential campaign, Adriel Luis, a Colorlines.com contributor and artist based in Brooklyn, NY, made this video to remind all of us what Perry’s real legacy is.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Singing Legend Etta James Dies at 73

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 11:57AM

She was 73.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Hollywood Unions Blast Google After More Than 7 Million Sign SOPA Petition

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 11:47AM

On Wednesday more than 7 million people in the U.S. signed Google’s petition urging Congress to stop #SOPA and #PIPA, the two bills that would censor the web.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Here’s the Video of Obama Singing Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’ Last Night

by Jorge Rivas on January 20 2012, 8:45AM

President Obama has officially turned on the charm to get re-elected.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

The Miraculous Story of Amit Gupta’s Bone Marrow Match

by Jorge Rivas on January 19 2012, 6:01PM

For someone of South Asian descent, the odds of finding a matching bone marrow donor are currently only 1 in 20,000.

Topics: Celebrate Love, /NOW Blog

Tyler Perry says Films with All Black Cast on Verge of Extinction

by Jorge Rivas on January 19 2012, 4:53PM

Last week it was George Lucas saying Hollywood studios don’t fund films with black leads and this week we’ve got Tyler Perry saying “movies starring an all African American cast are on the verge of becoming extinct.”

Topics: 'Pariah', Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Obama Re-election Campaign Hires Black Voter Outreach Director

by Jorge Rivas on January 19 2012, 4:07PM

The Obama re-election campaign hired Stefanie Brown to be the African-American Vote Director for the campaign’s Operation Vote outreach effort.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Signs Transgender Equality Bill Into Law

by Jorge Rivas on January 19 2012, 3:03PM

The Massachusetts Governor signed an act in to law that now legally protects transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, education, employment and credit.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

UC President is Seriously Considering Students’ Plan That Eliminates Tuition

by Jorge Rivas on January 19 2012, 2:48PM

Students could study at universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley and it wouldn’t cost them a dime while they’re in school.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

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