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.

Oscar De La Hoya Admits to Cheating, Alcohol and Cocaine Addiction

by Jorge Rivas on September 1 2011, 11:34AM

The Latino boxing champ says he’s battled alcoholism since he was 8 years old.

Topics: Arts & Culture

The Unapologetic Homophobia of ‘Tyler, The Creator’

by Jorge Rivas on August 31 2011, 3:11PM

MTV’s Best New Artist hurls hundreds of anti-gay slurs on his new album. “I’m not homophobic,” he has explained. “Gay just means you’re stupid.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, Media

Don Cheadle Brings Us the World’s First Black Captain Planet

by Jorge Rivas on August 31 2011, 2:58PM

Cheadle stars in a live-action version of the classic cartoon.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Video

HBO Orders Spike Lee Directed Mike Tyson Boxing Drama

by Jorge Rivas on August 31 2011, 12:45PM

The show is said to be modeled loosely after Tyson’s career inside and outside of the ring.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Touré Distances Himself from ESPN’s Michael Vick ‘Whiteface’ Saga

by Jorge Rivas on August 31 2011, 9:00AM

Cultural critic Touré says that ESPN The Magazine’s decision to run a photoshopped image of Vick as a white man distracts viewers from his original point of how race played a role in his high-profile dog-fighting scandal.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Has Big Post-Katrina Regrets

by Jorge Rivas on August 30 2011, 1:32PM

Six years after Katrina, former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin says he regrets not evacuating the city sooner.

Topics: Environment

U.S. Gov. Secretly Infected Thousands of Guatemalans with STDs

by Jorge Rivas on August 30 2011, 12:33PM

Government scientists infected 5,500 Guatemalans with syphilis and gonorrhea between 1946 and 1948 to study the effects of penicillin, according to recent findings of a U.S. presidential panel.

Topics: Global Affairs

Spanish-Language News Grows as English Media Slumps

by Jorge Rivas on August 30 2011, 10:24AM

Spanish-language newspapers, magazines, television and radio shows all experienced growth in 2010. And Univision is launching a 24-hour news channel.

Topics: Media

Judge Puts Alabama’s New Anti-Immigrant Law on Hold

by Jorge Rivas on August 29 2011, 3:38PM

The law is said by many to be the harshest in a string of harsh policies directed at undocumented immigrants to sweep the country.

Topics: Immigration

Gary, Indiana Holds Massive Birthday Party for Michael Jackson

by Jorge Rivas on August 29 2011, 2:40PM

The town’s hometown hero would have turned 53 today.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Twitter Rages as NY Announces No Evacuation Plan for Rikers

by Jorge Rivas on August 29 2011, 2:30PM

Major publications avoided the biggest story in New York’s battle against Hurricane Irene. Twitter played a critical row in bringing the news to the masses.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Environment

The First Lady Can Double-Dutch, Can you?

by Jorge Rivas on August 26 2011, 5:08PM

She can hoola hoop, she can dougie and now…this! Watch Michelle do it and learn how to keep up yourself.

Topics: Celebrate Love

Irene Rain on Your MLK Memorial Parade? Sing These Songs Instead

by Jorge Rivas on August 26 2011, 3:30PM

NewsOne has compiled a list of the top ten songs from the civil rights era.

Topics: History

Jesse Jackson Says Tea Party Would’ve Opposed Integration, Too

by Jorge Rivas on August 26 2011, 1:25PM

The civil rights leader says the Tea Party’s ideals are the same as those that objected integration.

Topics: Politics

Nearly Half of All Babies are of Color, 2010 Census Shows

by Jorge Rivas on August 26 2011, 11:09AM

The number of states where minority babies dominate has doubled to 14 since 2000.

Topics: Immigration, Schools & Youth

Growing Numbers of Latinos Convert to Muslim Faith

by Jorge Rivas on August 25 2011, 5:21PM

The American Muslim Council estimates that in 2007 there were 200,000 Latino Muslims, a significant jump from 40,000 in 1997.

Topics:

96% of Florida Welfare Applicants Pass Drug Test, Discredit Tea Party Gov

by Jorge Rivas on August 25 2011, 1:55PM

The state must now spend $180M a year to debunk the tea party-backed governor’s stereotypes of poor people. So much for smart, efficient use of public funds.

Topics: Economy, Politics