ONA’s investment in The Pivot Fund will enhance capacity for racial equity in journalism, marking a significant early endorsement.
Author Archives: support
The Root and the case for culturally competent Black media
Sometimes Things Just End The Root — a digital website that boasts that it provides news with a Black perspective for Black people — has lost more than two-thirds of its writers, journalists, popular and noted columnists, and content producers, an analysis of the masthead shows. In April, the site’s former celebrated editor-in-chief, Danielle Belton,Continue reading “The Root and the case for culturally competent Black media”
Reconnecting with advertisers in a post-pandemic world
Two years into a global pandemic, the advertising rules for local news organizations have been upended. Unable to go into stories or access newspapers, an entire consumer base has been re-educated to interact digitally with brands, including local businesses. Building loyalty and memberships are now even more important when it comes to our brands andContinue reading “Reconnecting with advertisers in a post-pandemic world”
The Ozy Media Debacle Is a Cautionary Tale for Journalism Donors
The soap opera that has become Ozy Media — replete with allegations of fake audience metrics and outright fraud — offers many lessons for philanthropists, especially those who want to support media organizations that aim to reach diverse audiences.
That time when we interviewed OZY.com’s Carlos Watson in 2015
OZY.com is currently in the news for all the wrong reasons. News reports about fraud, inflated value, and inflated reach are dogging co-founder Carlos Watson. Just six years ago, AllDigitocracy (now The Pivot Fund) interviewed Watson about mistakes he’d made and challenges he faced in launching OZY.com. Watch it now.
One Great Idea: Sponsored Q&As
Like many, I learned about the deaths of actor Michael K. Williams and comedian Fuquan Johnson due to fentanyl-laced drug overdoses on social media. But it wasn’t until I turned on the radio and tuned into the Rickey Smiley Morning Show that I learned about the extent of fentanyl’s deadly impact on Black communities across the country. Smiley, a popular comedianContinue reading “One Great Idea: Sponsored Q&As”
Building Audience Beyond the Pulpit
Localization is the key to success for BIPOC legacy news media For nearly a century, the Black press and Black churches working hand-in-hand to develop and serve Black men and women escaping or migrating North en masse and in need of learning about the best places to live, how to stay safe, where there wereContinue reading “Building Audience Beyond the Pulpit”
Could Congress Save BIPOC News Media?
For the first time since 1967, U.S. lawmakers are poised to inject federal dollars into a lagging media ecosystem under the guise of saving local news. There are several pieces of legislation being bandied about in Washington, D.C., but the one getting the most attention at the moment — and perhaps the best chance of passage — is The LocalContinue reading “Could Congress Save BIPOC News Media?”
Board Talk: Building and retaining a strong board
Board development might be one of the dryest topics of conversation when it comes to entrepreneurship. It’s also one of the hardest things to do, especially in the journalism business where many publishers want to recruit people who are in the industry and have a working knowledge about news media and the ethics that governContinue reading “Board Talk: Building and retaining a strong board”