young gifted black Archives - Rolling Out

Adam Serwer Senior Editor The Atlantic Columbia University, M.S. Vassar College, B.A. Adam Serwer is that rare journalist who rather than having to apply for jobs, he is constantly being recruited. He has just began his role as senior editor at The Atlantic where management had been keeping an eye on him for years. In a…

Kara Brown staff writer, Jezebel Tufts University, B.A. Kara Brown is a prolific writer for Jezebel, the feminist website covering celebrities and culture owned by Gawker Media. Last week, Gawker announced it was shutting down after an expensive lawsuit left the company bankrupt. Brown will no doubt quickly find a new home for her work,…

Soraya Nadia McDonald senior writer and critic, The Undefeated Howard University, B.A. In January, Soraya McDonald joined the staff of the highly anticipated new ESPN web vertical, The Undefeated. In addition to writing feature stories, she is spearheading coverage of the fall TV season with Kelley Carter. Her first piece for the Undefeated illustrated how Brad…

“One the benefits of being the co-host and anchor of ‘Good Day Philadelphia’ [FOX 29] is that we cover a wide range of stories. We start with hard news to start your day, then we branch out and tell you the stories you’d like to know. This could be anything from Philadelphia being one…

Jonathan Blakely Producer The CBS Evening News w/ Scott Pelley The George Washington University, B. A. Jonathan Blakely is a Producer for the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. This appointment in 2015 was his third promotion in under four years at CBS News where he previously served as an Associate Producer for the same show. His first…

Ira Madison III is a senior writer for MTV News. He has quickly garnered a reputation for his humor-infused critiques of pop culture, but he can also tackle series topics. The writer shows his range by dressing up as a Black Power Ranger to report from Comic-Con then later discussing how people are exposing violence…

Christopher Nelson is a senior assignment editor for NBC News. He has been a part of the broadcast television network’s evolution to a multi-platform content provider and has worked across broadcast and digital formats. In addition to editing, Nelson is also a reporter and writer. In a previous stint with NBC News, Nelson was a researcher…

Gene Demby Correspondent/Host NPR’s Code Switch Hofstra University Gene Demby is the podcast host and lead blogger for NPR’s Code Switch.The team of journalists of color are putting exploring stories that highlight the overlapping themes of race, ethnicity and culture, but with the idea of bringing in a broad audience. “Many of us subtly, reflexively…

Wilbert L. Cooper host and senior editor ‘VICE Does America’ and VICE.com New York University, M.A. Ohio University, B.A. As host of “Vice Does America,” Wilbert Cooper can be caught in some awkward, perhaps dangerous, situations like that time he reported on a Civil War reenactment in Alabama. His serenity comes back at Vice’s New…

Jamilah Lemieux Vice President of News and Men’s Programming Interactive One @JamilahLemieux Howard University, B.F.A. Jamilah Lemieux was recently named the vice president of News and Men’s Programming for Interactive One, the online media company launched in 2008 by Radio One, Inc. Previously senior editor for Ebony magazine, Lemieux’s new role will involve expanding iOne’s video…

Amber Payne is the first managing editor of NBCBLK, a section within NBCNEWS.COM that launched in early 2015. With its focus on stories “by, for, and about the Black community,” Payne is charged with cultivating writers and editors who can elevate the conversation about Black identity, politics and culture today. Since it’s launch, NBCBLK has…

Another Round with Heben and Tracy BuzzFeed Podcast Heben Nigatu Writer/Podcast Host The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Columbia College Heben Nigatu (pronounced Heaven) and Tracy Clayton are the hosts of BuzzFeed’s breakout podcast hit, “Another Round.” The show features the two co-hosts, who didn’t know each other before they began working together at BuzzFeed,…

Another Round with Heben and Tracy BuzzFeed Podcast Tracy Clayton Writer/Podcast Host Transylvania University Tracy Clayton is the co-host of BuzzFeed’s breakout podcast hit, “Another Round.” The show also features, Heben Nigatu (pronounced Heaven). The two didn’t know each other before they began working together at BuzzFeed, bantering or interviewing guests while sipping alcohol. (Since…

Yamiche Alcindor National Politics and Social Justice Reporter The New York Times New York University, M.A. Georgetown University, B.A. A few years ago, Yamiche Alcindor was presented with the Emerging Journalist of the Year award by the National Association of Black Journalists. Leaders of the organization affectionately refer to her as an “NABJ baby,” but…

Jamiles Lartey Reporter The Guardian US New York University, M.A. State University of New York at New Paltz, B.A. Jamiles Lartey was named this year’s National Association of Black Journalists’s Emerging Journalist of the Year. In announcing the honor, NABJ president Sarah Glover said, “Jamiles is an impressive young journalist who has developed a passion…

Lilly Workneh Senior Editor HuffPost Black Voices The University of Georgia, B.A. Lilly Workneh is the senior editor for The Huffington Post’s vertical, Black Voices. Her work aims to amplify marginalized voices in a mainstream space by elevating the black experience and the diversity among it. She oversees all of Black Voices’ coverage, which aims to…

Jasmine Alexander Producer SportsCenter University of Southern California, B.A. Jasmine Alexander is responsible for picking the stories, setting the tone and identifying guests and analysts for the 6pm ESTSportsCenter. Alexander didn’t come to this career by chance. Inspired by growing up in a household in which television news was always on and trusted, she knew…

Yesha Callahan Senior Editor The Root Rutgers University Yesha Callahan covers black Twitter, pop culture, and entertainment. “Whether it’s dealing with a popular trending topic (hashtag) or entertainment news, black Twitter is always sure to be at the forefront of the conversation, and I don’t ever see this role changing,” says Callahan, who also predicts…

Rashida Jones Managing Editor MSNBC Hampton University, B.A. Rashida Jones is managing editor of MSNBC. Upon her hiring, MSNBC VP and executive editor, Yvette Miley wrote to the staff, “Rashida, a highly-sought after newsroom leader, has always been someone I wanted on our team … She is a visionary who understands strategy and how to…

Morgan Radford Correspondent NBC News Columbia University, M.S. Harvard University Bachelor of Arts, B.A. Few television correspondents have risen as quickly as Morgan Radford. Still a student less than five years ago, she is currently a correspondent for NBC News and appears on the TODAY Show, NBC Nightly News and MSNBC. She’s reported on deadly floods…