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.

Sen. Reid on Arpaio: Fix Broken Immigration System

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 5:07PM

The Senate Majority leader says he’s continuing to fight for immigration reform.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration, /NOW Blog

Arpaio Has Harsh Words for Obama, Says He’ll Go to Federal Court if He Must

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 2:16PM

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has some harsh words for, who he calls, “Obama and his merry men.”

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration, /NOW Blog

Mos Def (AKA Yassin Bey) Included in the 2011 List of World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 12:21PM

The list highlights public figures who have made a significant impact on the Muslim World.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Landlord Says She’s No Racist, She Just Doesn’t Want Black Folks in Pool

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 11:38AM

The landlord says she’s not racist she just didn’t want black hair products to get the pool water cloudy.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Obama Shuts Jim Crow Era Labor-Law Loop Hole for Home Care Workers

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 10:35AM

President Obama and Secretary of Labor Solis announced nearly 2 million homecare workers will soon have federal overtime and minimum wage protections. These workers, among others, were left out of 1930s laws at behest of Southern white lawmakers.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Federal Funding for Syringe Exchange Programs is at Risk

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 9:26AM

Some member of congress want to eliminate federal funding for needle exchange programs that have been proven to reduce HIV transmission.

Topics: Health, /NOW Blog

‘Mexican Restaurant’ is the 7th Most Popular Google Maps Search in the U.S.

by Jorge Rivas on December 16 2011, 8:34AM

So some states don’t want Mexican immigrants to stay but they sure would miss the food.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Immigration, /NOW Blog

75 Years of Love to Puerto Rican Maestro Eddie Palmieri

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 6:13PM

The nine time Grammy Award winning bandleader turns 75 too.

Topics: Celebrate Love, /NOW Blog

Department of Homeland Security and ICE End Sheriff Arpaio’s 287(g) Contract

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 5:00PM

Sheriff Joe Arpaio will no longer have the ability to hold undocumented detainees after they’ve served their time for their initial arrest.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration, /NOW Blog

President Obama: ‘Iraq War is Over’

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 2:59PM

President Obama marks the end of the Iraq War. More than 1.5 million U.S. troops served; 30,000 were wounded and 4,500 died.

Topics: Global Affairs, /NOW Blog

‘If I Were A Poor Black Kid’ Dude Responds to Baratunde Thurston’s Satirical Letter

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 2:23PM

Despite all the controversy, Gene Marks still thinks that if poor black kids in Philadelphia study hard and apply to the best schools they’ll turn out fine.

Topics: Media, /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

White House Releases Obama Family 2011 Holiday Portrait

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 1:45PM

The White House releases the new holiday first family portrait.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

DOJ Confirms Joe Arpaio is a Racist Sheriff, Demands Reform

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 1:32PM

The Department of Justice has released key findings from their investigation that started in 2008 and their giving Sheriff Joe Arpaio an ultimatum: cooperate with us or we’ll sue you.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration, /NOW Blog

Nation’s Oldest Black-Owned Bookstore Takes on Amazon’s Price Check App

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 10:25AM

The grandaughter of the partners that opened the nation’s oldest independent African-American owned bookstore says a recent Amazon.com promotion took competition a little too far.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Paris Jackson to Appear on ‘Ellen’ Making Her First Solo TV Appearance

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 9:58AM

The late Michael Jackson protected his kids’ identities by covering their faces with masks, but today the second eldest is making her first solo television appearance.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Morgan Freeman Becomes Second African American To Get Top Golden Globe Honor

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 9:28AM

Morgan Freeman will be honored with the The Cecil B. Demille Award at the 2012 Golden Globes ceremony.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

“The Help” Gets Five Golden Globe Nominations

by Jorge Rivas on December 15 2011, 8:50AM

Looks like “The Help” will make it’s way to the Oscars too.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

NC: Governor Vetoes Repeal of Racial Justice Act

by Jorge Rivas on December 14 2011, 5:07PM

North Carolina’s governor vetoed a bill that would have repealed a law that allows death-row inmates to appeal their sentences based on statistical proof of racial bias.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog, Troy Davis

¿Como se dice? Gingrinch Launches Spanish-Language Website

by Jorge Rivas on December 14 2011, 4:19PM

Newt Gingrich is the first GOP candidate to launch a Spanish-language website targeting the fastest-growing group of voters in the United States.

Topics: Immigration, Newt Gingrich, /NOW Blog, Politics

Native American Youth to Diane Sawyer: We’re Not Poverty Porn

by Jorge Rivas on December 14 2011, 3:22PM

Native American youth respond to ABC’s documentary and tell Diane Sawyer their stories are a lot more complex.

Topics: Media, /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

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