The release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 earlier this year made plenty of fashion people feel seen, especially journalists and media professionals. But beyond the entertainment, its portrayal of print media’s decline and Runway magazine’s uncertain future mirrored a reality many working journalists already know: the media industry is changing, and for Black journalists, navigating that instability can come with an additional set of challenges.
The rise and rapid retreat of corporate DEI commitments, financial pressures across publishing and an industry that has historically struggled to retain and elevate Black talent have made one thing increasingly clear: a prestigious title or recognizable masthead can no longer be the only measure of a journalist’s power.
And a growing group of Black editors and writers are recognizing that their expertise, audiences and cultural authority have value beyond the companies that employ them. Instead of waiting for traditional media to determine how much their voices are worth, they’re creating platforms they can actually own.
Blake Newby, former beauty and style editor at ESSENCE among other publications, has successfully pivoted into a media multihyphenate, from appearances on Good Morning America and Tamron Hall to hosting the cult-favorite podcast According to Blake. Olivia Hancock shapes Byrdie’s expert coverage as its senior editor while also building The Hue Report, a platform dedicated to sharing the stories of Black beauty founders and creators.
Meanwhile, Stixx Mathews, a beauty writer and expert, brings 11 years of experience across L’Oréal, Glossier and Hypebae to The Boy Beat, a Substack and podcast built around candid conversations that challenge…
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