Meet the Powerful Voices Driving Black Media Forward

Black media leaders have been instrumental in shaping the narrative of Black people in society. Their impact has been profound, from showcasing Black excellence to bringing attention to issues that are often overlooked or dismissed by mainstream media. The rise of social media has also allowed for the emergence of new Black media leaders who are creating their own platforms and amplifying the voices of the Black community.

Caroline A. Wanga is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ESSENCE, the No. 1 media, technology, and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities. She also serves as Chief Growth Officer for ESSENCE Ventures, parent company of ESSENCE.

Kristyn Harris is the Editor in Chief of Sheen Magazine

Earl G. Graves Jr. (Butch) is President & CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE. He joined the company in 1988 after earning his M.B.A. from Harvard University. During his tenure at BLACK ENTERPRISE he has served in many positions, including VP of Advertising & Marketing, and Chief Operating Officer. In 2006 he was promoted to his current position.

Triple-threat is an understatement when describing Lia Dias. An entrepreneur, real estate mogul, former model, and mother. The mompreneur has been a prominent figure and voice in the community advocating for women empowerment and realistic beauty in the industry. Elevating to another level and expanding her platform and voice to be heard, Dias joined the cast of season two of Bravo’s hit television show Married To Medicine Los Angeles in Spring 2020. Originally from Inglewood, California, the business-savvy entrepreneur wears many hats. She is also a proud owner of The Girl Cave Los Angeles, a chain of beauty supplies and lifestyle brands in Los Angeles, which fuels her passion.

Marielle Bobo is a publishing industry veteran with over two decades of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle media experience. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President, Programming, at EBONY Magazine. Following its recent relaunch under new ownership, Bobo is charged with leading EBONY’s strategic expansion as a digital-first brand honoring the core elements of its 75-year legacy—innovative storytelling, compelling imagery, original reporting and long and short form content creation—through a contemporary lens, fresh perspectives, and strong voices. Under Bobo’s stewardship, EBONY’s website has undergone a complete redesign and the brand has begun producing monthly digital covers amplifying Black stories and celebrating next-gen creatives.

Genetta Adams is an experienced editor and writer specializing in race, social justice, politics, entertainment and pop culture. She worked for both print and digital media companies. In 2005, Adams edited the Pulitzer Prize finalist project on the history of hip-hop. In 2009, she broadened her skills by learning film editing at Manhattan Edit Workshop. She now have Final Cut Pro and Avid in her toolbox.

Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, executive and corporate advisor. As the Founder & CEO of Blavity Inc., the leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials, Morgan has grown the company into a market leader for Black media, reaching over 100 million readers per month through a growing brand portfolio which includes: Blavity News, 21Ninety, AfroTech, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, and Blavity TV.

Tatsha Robertson was born in Boston, but raised in South Carolina, hailing from one of the oldest black and white families in the Upcountry. She's an award-winning multimedia editor and writer with more than twenty years of experience handling investigative, feature, and news stories for leading magazines, social media outlets, and newspapers. She was the first female New York City bureau chief and national rover for the Boston Globe. The Boston Globe’s Spotlight team both acknowledged Tatsha’s help the day they won the Pulitzer for their stories on church sex abuse and mentioned her in the acknowledgements of their book.

Janeé originally hails from Birmingham, AL, but her childhood was spent in College Park, GA, Brookline, MA and Iowa City, IA before attending college in NYC. A hip-hop buff and avid lover of words, Janeé graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Africana Studies. She also earned her MFA in Fiction from NYU’s Creative Writing program before launching a career as an entertainment journalist.

Fred Mwangaguhunga is the Editor in Chief and CEO of Media Take Out, a popular celebrity news and gossip website. He is a lawyer by training, but his passion for media and entertainment led him to start Media Take Out in 2006. Under his leadership, the website has become one of the most visited celebrity news sites on the internet, with millions of readers around the world. Fred is known for his bold and sometimes controversial reporting style, and he is committed to providing his readers with the latest and most accurate celebrity news and gossip.

Shamika Sanders is the managing editor for HelloBeautiful where she carries out a vision to uplift Black women by telling their unique stories. She began working at iOneDigital in 2011 and has penned articles for iOneDigital, Essence, Billboard, and has interviewed celebrities like Oprah, Viola Davis, Denzel Washington, and Regina King. Shamika is a seasoned reporter with over 10 years of experience in digital media. She is the mother of an adorable two-year-old, enjoys spending time with her friends and family, enjoys good music, and good eats. Keep up with her on social media.

Alvin aqua Blanco is the Director of Content in the Men's Division for iOne Digital, steering Cassius Life and Hip-Hop Wired. Representing the Bronx, he was nurtured by a steady diet of Hip-Hop culture and music. He graduated from the University of Virginia, with a B.A. in African American Studies and Psychology. His prior work has appeared in XXL, The Source, Vibe, The Village Voice, and other notable print and online publications. Other stops in his over 15-year journalism career include BET, MTV News, and AllHipHop.com. Alvin joined iOne in 2017 and continues to always make sure the culture—be it music, business, fashion, sports, sneakers, and everything in between—is thoroughly and accurately documented.

Kimberly joined Paramount as EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, BET Networks. In this role she is responsible for managing and implementing brand strategy across all platforms including the BET and BET Her linear networks, BET+ streaming, BET Social, and stewards the highly successful BET Live Events business. A seasoned brand marketer and general manager with over 25 years of experience, Kimberly is widely recognized as a leading business executive known for driving transformative growth among existing and emerging brands and companies. She cites her ability to stay connected with consumers and culture, cultivate strong collaborative partnerships, unlock revenue growth opportunities, and build inspired and empowered teams as keys to her success.

Bruce is based in New York City and mainly covers politics, culture, race and criminal justice. He previously worked at the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Boston Globe’s Boston.com, where he was a part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the Boston Marathon bombing and manhunt. Follow him @ BCTW on social media.

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