Just over half of the group are for-profit organizations. The Facebook Journalism Project’s support of South-based participants enables the continuation of that legacy at a pivotal moment, as Black people in this country boldly lead the fight for justice yet again.” “The legacy of Black-led media in the South is unmatched, with Black news organizations having played a pivotal role in Southern-born freedom movements from abolition to civil rights. “The sustainability of the participant organizations, and the sustainability of all media serving marginalized people, is paramount,” said Cierra Hinton, executive director at Scalawag Magazine and a coach in the program.
Two thirds of the participants are from the Midwest and South, areas that have historically received less investment than their colleagues on the coasts. This is an opportunity to provide skills and resources to help these organizations continue to grow, innovate and lead.”Īs a group, 80 percent of the publishers focus on local news. “We are in a moment when Black- and Brown-owned and led media is absolutely essential to the future of this nation. “I am excited about the amazing media organizations that will be joining this inaugural Sustainability Accelerator,” said Sara Lomax-Reese, president of WURD Radio in Philadelphia and program lead for this Accelerator program. Half of the group is composed of Black-owned, Black-led publishers, including some of the nation’s oldest Black newspapers as well as digitally native organizations. “Without question, the work they do is critical, and an investment in their long-term success is an investment in stronger communities.” “We are honored to partner with this impressive group of publishers, whose newsrooms make a difference in their communities and serve as models for our industry,” said Joyce Barnathan, president of ICFJ, an organization with global experience helping news media become stronger financially. based on their demonstrated impact on their community, their commitment to the program’s requirements and their readiness to pursue their biggest business opportunities. The group was selected by Facebook staff, International Center for Journalists staff and Accelerator coaches from more than 300 applications from around the U.S. These 20 organizations are owned and led by people of color from across the U.S., as part of the Facebook Journalism Project’s recent investment in publishers from and serving historically marginalized communities. The participants in the Facebook Sustainability Accelerator program have been announced.