RJI BIPOC Media Partnership
The Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), the Multicultural Media and Correspondents Association (MMCA), and Dynasty Consulting are teaming up to help publishers of color tap into community development, revitalization, and reinvestment funds, and then use those investments to test new revenue strategies and build more sustainable business models.
RJI will provide seed money and administrative support to the partnership, and MMCA and Dynasty will develop the engagement strategies and facilitate pilot projects with individual publishers. Over the next several months, we will share learnings from the project with the journalism industry, the economic development finance community, policymakers and the public at large.
Three Pilot BIPOC Publications
Three local publishers (see sidebar) have been selected to participate in the initial pilot projects: The Community Voice, serving Wichita and the Kansas City Metropolitan area; The Times Weekly, serving Joliet, IL; and Elevate Dayton, serving Dayton, OH.
All three are part of a rich, but shrinking tapestry of Black-owned media outlets weathering long-standing economic pressures that have only worsened in the age of covid-19. Until recently these and other vital community media businesses have been all but ignored by foundations, nonprofits and corporations.
