Satellite newsrooms

When prison newsrooms reach out to us in need of resources, training, or distribution support, we answer the call. Now, we support seven satellite newsrooms and counting across the nation. Learn more about those publications below.

Overview

While one of our goals is to build prison media centers from the ground up, we also recognize the already-robust network of prison publications across the nation. 

Approximately 40 publications already exist but don’t have the outside support or funding to break beyond the walls of their prison, or even distribute their stories internally. That’s where we come in. 

When a prison publication reaches out to us, they are automatically added to PollenPress.org to reach the general public and are uploaded to Edovo, an app on institutional tablets that reaches over 1.2 million incarcerated readers nationwide. We can also provide resources, funding, and remote training upon request.

As of April 2026, we support:

  • Mule Creek Post, Mule Creek State Prison, California
  • Hard Climb Journal, California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, California
  • The Razor Wire, California Institution for Women, California
  • The Echo and 1664, Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, Oregon
  • The Nash News, Nash Correctional, North Carolina
  • North Carolina Prison News Today, North Carolina’s Department of Adult Correction (statewide), North Carolina
Learn more about each below!

Satellite newsrooms by state

The Mule Creek Post is a prison publication dedicated to sharing the news, events, and stories of the Mule Creek State Prison community. The Post has been around for about a decade and in that time, their mission has been to present content and messaging that encourages rehabilitation and pro-social values. The staff writers aim to enhance a sense of community, creativity, and positivity both in and outside of Mule Creek State Prison.
Read Mule Creek Post
The Hard Climb Journal is a publication out of the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi. It is produced by a staff of eight incarcerated journalists under the supervision of Lt. J. Robinson, PIO Lt. T. Harris. HCJ is committed to equality, innovation, and social justice, embracing the ideas and practices of others.
Read Hard Climb Journal
The Razor Wire is a quarterly newsletter published out of the California Institution for Women. It was founded in December 2023 to share the stories of the CIW community and is committed to giving voice to their entire population and covering topics that matter.
Read The Razor Wire
The Echo is the official newsletter of the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution created and produced by incarcerated people. It's mission is to serve the incarcerated community by providing monthly news and other important information, while highlighting the human experience in the carceral setting.
Read The Echo
1664 – just another number in a prison system where everyone is reduced to a collection of integers in a specific order. By its nature the justice system removes the humanity from each of us in the name of accuracy, fair treatment, and consistency. Welcome to a new number: 1664. 1664 focuses on the arts and human-interest stories of the people who live and work in Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. They aim to showcase writing and artwork from incarcerated members of the community, explore issues that affect the lives of people who live and work in the prison setting, capture the humanity of people throughout the justice system and offering inspiration to others, and highlight efforts at rehabilitative practices within the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Read 1664
Founded in 2005, the motto for The Nash News (TNN) is: Information and the arts from the Nash Correctional Institution community. TNN has always embraced the same mission: to provide timely and useful information to the incarcerated population; offer a forum for discussion, dialogue, and creativity; encourage, give hope, and strengthen the Nash prison community; and instill an appreciation for the written word. This mission has been passed from founders Brian Scott and Mark Pieczynski through the subsequent staff who followed them to the current team. The current publication staff embraces the opportunity to contribute to TNN and accepts the responsibility to ensure TNN continues to pursue its original mission for the next 20 years and beyond.
Read The Nash News
North Carolina Prison News Today (NCPNT) is a publication operated by incarcerated people in partnership with North Carolina's Department of Adult Correction. NCPNT's motto is: Amplifying the voices of the incarcerated statewide. Our mission is to speak with authenticity, truth, and courage — addressing issues that impact North Carolina’s population of adult correction inmates. Through this shared voice, we aim to accomplish several goals. Our goals are rooted in a belief that people of any background have the potential for positive growth, reform, and value to their society. We advocate for the rights of the incarcerated and for reformative justice. We aim to promote camaraderie and enjoy some levity along the way. At every opportunity, we aim to share the voices of our peers, amplify their successes, and support the incarcerated along our common path.
Read NCPNT
Pollen Press' digital reach

By The Numbers:

The San Quentin News is a standard bearer for enlightening the incarcerated, policy makers and the public at large about issues affecting the incarcerated.

  • San Quentin News forums bring together key stakeholders to participate in crucial conversations regarding the criminal justice system.
  • San Quentin News has unique credibility in reaching and affecting incarcerated individuals with messages of rehabilitation, reentry and policy.

San Quentin News garners widespread top-tier coverage in the media

  • Efforts in the newsroom have led to widespread top-tier, national and local coverage, from publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.
  • Several newsroom staff have also published op-eds in leading publications.

San Quentin News is a model for other prison newspapers worldwide

  • San Quentin News is the world’s only independent newspaper produced solely by the incarcerated and funded by charitable contributions and grants.
  • Other prisons in California and throughout the nation are utilizing the San Quentin News model for their own newsletters and newspapers.

SQ Reels showcases the talent of the resident filmmakers at San Quentin.


Testimonials

In the words of those we’ve worked with, see below for stories of how the Pollen Initiative has created tangible change:

“From my heart: Thank You! In six months when I parole, I’ll have skills that will give me a real future and an honest career outside of prison, doing the kind of work I love all because of San Quentin News and Wall City Magazine which only exists because of your support! Thank you!”
Andrew Hardy
San Quentin News Contributor
“Thank you for taking an interest in our Media Center. Here at San Quentin News, we strive to inspire change by injecting the value of humanity from within the walls of San Quentin. Our work has provided hope to other incarcerated around the states as well as created a positive vibration out onto the broader communities. Your generosity will allow us to push forward with our mission. Thank you!"
Dao Ong
Layout Designer

Thank you for your support

Pollen Initiative is spreading the hope and opportunities that San Quentin News and other media programs cultivate to other incarcerated communities. We are expanding to the largest women’s prison in the world, Central California Women’s Prison to train and develop the participants in multimedia skills and managing their own platforms. Upon release we are also looking to provide pathways to internships and employment.

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