How to Support Black Journalism in an Age of Censorship

One of the beautiful things about the internet is its ability to allow for an open forum, meaning there is space for everyone. Sure, the government may try to push its agendas and silence certain groups, but we have many platforms where we can thrive online.

It was recently announced that a lot of major companies would be scaling back on their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives following President Donald Trump’s implementation of orders that target those sectors. With some major companies ending their DEI programs like Target, Amazon, and Walmart, consumers took to social media to voice their frustrations, with some conflicted on whether they would still frequent these places. Shopping isn’t the only thing that has been manipulated recently, as free press has carried some asterisks as of late. It’s clear that Trump is aiming to silence any and everyone who goes against his personal views, and that includes some angles that press outlets shed light on. Let’s take a look at how we can support Black journalism in this new age of censorship.

There are many subtle ways Black journalism is being censored, but one that has recently made headlines is Trump’s decision to be fairly selective of what journalists he allows at press conferences. Back in January, influencers were able to apply to be invited to the White House as part of Trump’s attempt to secure new voices. Over 7,400 applied, with TikTokers and even boxer and YouTube sensation Jake Paul being among those invited. However, there wasn’t much diversity, as the Black community is known for being tough, especially when it comes to asking the non-sugar-coated questions the people really want answers to.

With Trump making moves that would label him as non-inclusive and not for the minority class (he once got upset with several female journalists for simply asking questions), you can bet that he’d avoid inviting Black journalists who would challenge him in front of the world. By limiting the Black press at political events, they are reducing the access we have to taking part in the matters that affect us. Instead, Trump is acting in a very biased manner and, somehow, is getting away with it. This leaves a space for the invited journalists to want to feel “liked” and be reinvited, so they don’t press Trump or try to dive into important topics. Thankfully, there are sites like NBC News that offer sections like NBC BLK where our community will have factual information about important stories, issues, and opinions from the Black perspective from a credible outlet.

There’s no better time than now to elevate and support each other to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear. Thankfully, there are many groups, sites, and resources available that highlight journalism in our community. The National Association of Black Journalists is a non-profit organization that helps to advocate for Black media professionals while strengthening the ties between journalists, educators, students, and more. A Black-led news organization that has been leading the way is Word In Black, which was founded in 2021. Composed of 10 Black news publishers, their vision is “…to be the most trusted news and information source for, about, and by Black people.” Sites like the ones mentioned have the option to support via donation to keep them in business, as most do not generate income.

It is vital that people of color remain in the newspace because it is they who will continue to tell our story and highlight topics that are of interest to us. Part of supporting Black journalism is knowing the resources available to do so. Black Public Media is another established publication that “supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future.” If you’re much like me and are still into physical media and want to support writing in general, swing by your local Black owned bookstore to pick up some reads. No matter where you opt to get your news from, we live in a time where nobody gets us like we get us. So if we aren’t supporting our people and their output of journalism, why would we expect anyone else to?

Fighting the higher-ups trying to silence us is an uphill battle with this current president. Journalists are making sure we have the resources and tools necessary to still get our info, along with the answers to the hard-hitting questions our politicians don’t want to acknowledge. Spread awareness of Black media outlets by sharing their content on social media through reposts and let people know that, regardless of the lack of diversity in the newsroom, many independent journalists are working hard to cover news for us. If you want to check out more resources that are frequently updated, check out the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism.