The Center for Community Media launched the Black Media Initiative in 2020 to support Black media outlets through advocacy, convenings, training and research. Its aim is to be a one-stop resource for publishers of Black media, connecting them with available resources to build their capacity and stay sustainable. 

Sustainability

The BMI will work with newsrooms to explore paths to sustainability in an ever-changing media environment, including working to access revenue sources and connecting publishers to emerging innovations in the field.

Community and Industry Empowerment

Recognizing Black media as a vital asset to the audiences they serve and as a necessary part of the journalism ecosystem can help improve the industry’s long-term prospects and introduce new ways of thinking about news.

Research

In October 2023, the Black Media Initiative released the Black Media Green Book, a resource that strives to make connecting Black media outlets with freelancers, experts, and technology partners more accessible. Inspired by the historical publication known as The Negro Motorist Green Book, or simply The Green Book, the report aims to be a resource for Black media outlets who face challenges and barriers in the media industry, particularly in regards to technology access and use.

Understanding how Black media has evolved and continues to evolve is a critical need for this initiative so that we can be a trusted partner and offer assistance to interested collaborators. Our first research project, a content analysis report on “Why Black Media Matters Now,” was released in October 2021.

We have launched an interactive map and directory of hundreds of media outlets across the U.S. that primarily serve Black communities across the diaspora.