The power of storytelling has never been so important, and if 2020 has shown us anything, it is that Black voices within media and journalism are needed more than ever before.
In 2016, research from City University London revealed that a staggering 94% of the journalism industry is white, whilst only 0.2% are Black. A shocking yet sadly unsurprising statistic when looking at how often stories that are centered around Black lives are mistold, or misrepresented.
Greater representation within journalism generates greater diversity of thought, transforming the news we consume through switching up the narrative, amplifying marginalised voices and telling stories we often do not hear.
Below, H+K’s Dave Hughes has shared three Black journalists who are continuing to make waves within the industry through powerful reporting, fresh thinking, and new perspectives.
Whether it’s sport, politics, music, identity, race relations or society at large, Musa’s reflections are always worth reading as he has an amazing ability to make sense of complex situations and articulate these in an enlightened way.
He is an acclaimed poet, author, journalist, broadcaster, musician, social commentator and football writer. He has written for a range of publications including The Economist, ESPN, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, and The New York Times. He’s also written and presented essays and programmes for BBC Radio Four and the BBC World Service.
For the sports fans out there, he’s the Co-founder of @Stadiofootball (‘Football, done differently’) and writes for @Ringer. He’s also recently announced an upcoming book collaboration with his friend Ian Wright called ‘Striking Out’, an autobiographical children’s novel based on Ian’s own dreams and experiences of becoming a professional footballer.
See more here.
Charlie is the head of editorial at galdem, a British online and print magazine produced by Women of Colour and non-binary People of Colour, with the aim to champion those voices that are so often left out of the media.
We’ve been following their work for a while now after they came to H+K’s London office last year to showcase their brilliant platform, distinctive ethos and plans for the future. The title is incredibly influential, and we’re continuously inspired by the content they produce, from their powerful storytelling of women and non-binary people of colour, to how they address inequality and misrepresentation within the creative industry.
Charlie focuses on race, lifestyle and social politics and as well as her gal-dem work, writes for The Guardian as freelancer and is also former weekend editor and writer at Dazed. She is also a Scott Trust Bursary alumnus and winner of the 2016 Georgina Henry Award for Innovation in Journalism. Charlie also edited the book ‘Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children.’
You can buy the book and also read more about Charlie here.
Shingi Mararike is a News Reporter for The Sunday Times. He writes on a range of subjects with a focus on race, youth violence and social mobility and helped launch News UK’s diversity initiative, the News Academy. He was initially hired as The Sunday Time’s first apprentice in 2017.
Shingi has written a number of important pieces in The Times and in other publications, including one on how Black people often end up mentoring other Black people in their spare time (read here – subscription required). Shingi has recently started sharing more of his work on his Instagram, which you can read without a subscription!
