The Sidebar by NYABJ

In this panel episode of The Sidebar, NYABJ President BONITA SOSTRE moderated a discussion with "Jill of All Marketing Trades" AFRIYIE "FREE" AMANKWAA, JP Morgan Chase Executive Director for Global DEI Communications JILL DAVIS, and Senior Creative Producer SARA KETCHUM, as they revealed how they used their experience in journalism to pivot into a non-traditional journalism path. Learn how they us...

In this episode of The Sidebar by NYABJ, our own FEMI REDWOOD speaks with journalist/technologist BASSEY ETIM, co-founder of the "Machines on Paper" newsletter on the growing presence of generative artificial intelligence within the journalism industry. Etim discusses his background in the newsroom through his work as a journalist, a product manager, and an R&D specialist to put together groundbre...

Looking to build your online brand? NYABJ President BONITA SOSTRE moderated a discussion with an all-star panel of content creators, featuring TATIANA LEWIS (@theskincarebarbie), DORISSA WHITE (@dorissatv), JACQUE REID (@jacquereid/@vegansexycool), and SABRINA BROWNE (@thetasteofs). The four discussed how they established their personal brands and balanced providing content that would attract and...

For Women's History Month, The Sidebar's SONJA D. GRACY spoke with author and historian A'LELIA BUNDLES about Madam C.J. Walker's life and legacy as America's first female self-made millionaire. The conversation comes with a personal connection; A'Lelia is the entrepreneur and philanthropist's great-great granddaughter. They discussed A'Lelia's experiences growing up with connections to Madam Walk...

We're dropping an extra special episode of "The Sidebar by NYABJ" this week, featuring students from our annual First Take program. Since 1988, First Take is our a seven-week program for high schoolers across the New York City metro area to introduce them to various aspects and careers in journalism. Recorded on the final day of the program, the students reflect on what they learned throughout the...

The Sidebar by NYABJ had their first ever live podcast recording back in February, as we had a spirited discussion of balancing the pursuit and building of love with the oft-unpredictable world of journalism. Moderated by podcast co-creator CAROLYN ADAMS, she was joined by Apartment Therapy Media Executive Lifestyle Director CHARLI PENN, Unknown Intimacy CEO BRENDEN DURELL, relationship coach and...

The NYABJ commemorates Black History Month and the media-makers who have contributed to an illustrious culture. One such pioneer of Black stories, CYNTHIA HORNER, has chronicled the lives of artists, entertainers, and urban extraordinaires for decades. Under her direction, hip-hop and urban entertainment became prominent in the media, and news organizations embraced the authority of Black American...

In this episode of "The Sidebar by NYABJ", our own MICHAEL RAY spoke with veteran writer and producer PAM VEASEY, discussing career which included being head writer for the sketch comedy show "In Living Color" and the showrunner for "CSI: NY" and "CSI: Cyber". She also talked about being behind the scenes of the paradigm-shifting "In Living Color" Live Super Bowl XXVI Halftime Show and its role in...

Kicking off our third year of "The Sidebar by NYABJ", we were honored to have comedian, actor, Emmy-nominated producer and writer ROY WOOD JR.. Roy took a few minutes out of his schedule to talk about his career and life with our own SONJA D. GRACY and MICHAEL RAY. What came out of it was an insightful conversation that you do not want to skip a second of. --------- The opinions heard in this epis...

For our season finale before our holiday break, we leave you with our October panel on how to negotiate salaries and benefits. NYABJ Treasurer JANELLE GRIFFITH leads a conversation with Brunswick Group founder ERROL COCKFIELD and (former) Connecticut Public Radio Investigative Editor and current NABJ Vice President-Broadcast WALTER SMITH RANDOLPH on the do's and don't of the negotiating process. T...

Meet one of the driving forces behind UPMIXER's 2023 Holiday Soiree and Starlight Awards, GEORGE "GEO" SAINTEUS. Producer CAROLYN ADAMS talks to the UPMIXER co-founder about the planning of this must-attend event, his entrepreneurship journey, and a Harlem homecoming. For more information about the event and tickets, visit www.holidaysoiree.theupmixer.com. --------- The opinions heard in this epis...

***THIS EPISODE CONTAINS PROFANE LANGUAGE*** While Thanksgiving has become a more controversial holiday through the years, many people still enjoy getting together with their friends and family on one of the few days of the year when most are likely to be off from work and school. In this episode, we celebrate some traditions surrounding Thanksgiving in many Black homes, from the foods cooked to t...

Over the past few years, there's been an increase in journalists leaving their roles in a traditional newsroom to create their own news content on TikTok, Substack, or a podcast. They are joining what's being called the creator economy: people using various platforms to monetize their content. In this episode, we find out why journalists are leaving secure jobs to create their own content. We also...

As digital lures subscribers away, magazine staffers are in full force to revamp the industry. However, fashion media’s cult acclaim is too prominent to shed its print origins. To survive means to embrace new platforms while holding the coveted rules of fashion magazines sacred. In a multi-part series, producer KATHRYN JONES explores the state of lifestyle periodicals. We close our probe with the...

Every year, magazine readers await the September Issue—a pinnacle of fashion trend forecasts, glamorous editorials, and exclusive cover stories. But is the decline of the print industry a threat to a time-honored tradition? In a multi-part series, producer KATHRYN JONES explores the state of lifestyle periodicals. We start with the historical perspective of O.J. WILLIAMS, magazine veteran in edito...

In this episode of The Sidebar, we talk with OLIVIA SANDERS, the host and announcer of African American Day Parade, as it is about have its 54th installment as a celebration of Black culture in New York City. Speaking with host MICHAEL W. RAY, Sanders share her journey, including her experiences as a youth, her perspectives, and the future for the African American Day Parade. --------- The New Yor...

In this episode of The Sidebar, SONJA D. GRACY talks with legendary journalist, author, and NABJ founding member, DEWAYNE WICKHAM. The NABJ Hall of Fame Inductee, former Capitol Hill correspondent, and last surviving past president of the original NABJ founders' vanguard, discusses his life's legacy leveraging black journalists' presence, perspectives, and power in journalism from the Civil Rights...

With the 2023 NABJ Convention and Career Fair in Birmingham, Alabama, coming up, serious questions come to mind for the hundreds of attendees seeking to advance their journalism careers. What should I say when the interviewer asks if I have any questions about the position? When should I ask about salary or the hiring timeline? And how can I collect freebies without guilt? As part of our Road to t...

This episode focuses on Black media startups and what it takes to make them sustainable. We sit down with data journalist SHERRELL DORSEY, who offers candid insights into her process after announcing that her technology news platform, The Plug, would shut down after seven years. Producer and reporter JOYCE PHILIPPE guides the conversation, and the pair discuss the importance of claiming your value...

In this episode of The Sidebar, host MICHAEL W. RAY talks to VERNON REID, the founder and guitarist of the iconic Black rock band Living Colour, During this candid and informative conversation, Reid talks about his career, the history of Living Colour, and gives us a masterclass in Black music as a whole. --------- The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not...

In this episode of The Sidebar by NYABJ, hosts MICHAEL RAY and SONJA D. GRACY talk to GARY HINES, the longtime director and producer of the three-time, Grammy-winning group Sounds of Blackness. Hines discusses the formation of Sounds of Blackness, the group’s new WOKE and Juneteenth Celebration releases, Black Music Month, and their legacy. --------- The opinions heard in this episode belong to th...

In this episode of the Sidebar, we kick off African American Music Appreciation Month and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip hop. We embark on a nostalgic journey through time, reminiscing about the momentous impact of hearing "Rapper's Delight" for the first time. Join us as we pay homage to rap pioneers and share personal anecdotes that capture the essence of hip hop's early days. Ge...

NYABJ member and co-founder of the streaming platform Catch COD, FONDA SANDERS, talks with fellow co-founder KENDRA JAMES. In this episode, they talk about their path of joining together and starting a new service for independent content creators to expose and monetize their content to a worldwide audience. For more information on Catch COD, you can visit their website at www.catchcod.net, or foll...

In this episode of The Sidebar, SONJA D. GRACY talks with filmmaker TONYA LEWIS LEE about her “Sundance Film Festival” award-winning documentary, “Aftershock,” a narrative expose of the black maternal morbidity crisis, and Lee's story-teller distinction she’ll leave on the film industry as a black woman, wife, and mother. --------- The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who m...

For media and marketing professionals in women’s sports, dedication is no game. They must be passionate about what they do with what they are met with—undervalued and unfunded coverage. Basketball analyst and host LACHINA ROBINSON and freelance soccer journalist TAMERRA GRIFFIN join The Sidebar producer KATHRYN JONES to discuss their struggles and the moves they make to even the playing field for...