Traditional Black Media Not Making The Cut Online
November 5, 2009 by blackgirlgrown
Filed under black women, newspapers and magazines, technology
Part of why blackgirlrown exists is to fill a void left by traditional black media when it came to addressing the needs of mature and professional women of color. Growing up, I had been a huge fan of Ebony and Jet. And as a younger woman, Essence seemed to “get it”…..at least some of the time. But while I was getting my celebrity gossip with the occasional health message, I wasn’t being challenged or fulfilled intellectually, politically, or culturally.
The tipping point came about this time last year. Family circumstances required me to “grow” and I started searching online for answers. Information seemed to be everywhere and nowhere, and certainly not within a context that addressed the unique challenges of women of color. So the journey began to create an online platform for mature and professional women of color. Obviously, this is a work in progress!
Apparently, we’re not the only one’s “in search of” something greater from traditional black media online
Angela Benton at blackweb 2.0 notes:
As of late we’ve seen so many traditional Black/Urban Media companies either redesign as blogs, create blog properties as part of their holdings, or transform their content channels into blogs. In nearly every case that I’ve seen this happen not one company has been able to knock it out of the park. In many cases they merely bunt it. Cases in point…
BlackVoices building up their stable of blogs that mirror content channels (BVonStyle,BVonSports, BVonMoney, etc.)
Interactive One adding blogs to their holdings and then tacking those properties on the BlackPlanet.com domain
Angela Benton goes on to query why traditional black media isn’t following the examples of mainstream media and accumulating credibility/blogs through mergers and acquisitions.
Especially when Essence is feeling the backlash of their community on their new redesign, Black Voices’ traffic despite trying to incorporate blogs is in a huge slump, and of all Interactive One’s properties Black Planet still out shines many of their properties by light years. If these companies wanted to diversify their portfolio by adding blogs or appeal to a young audience by “acting” like a blog wouldn’t it make more sense just to acquire a blog that is aligned with your brand and what you are trying to build?
Is traditional black media not getting the point?
Addressing my own struggles as I get older and more reflective have caused me to seek information outside of myself and the void of credible and reliable information challenges me further in the face of existing struggle. I'm not looking for answers but data to assist me in make informed decisions. Am I crazy?
Addressing my own struggles as I get older and more reflective have caused me to seek information outside of myself and the void of credible and reliable information challenges me further in the face of existing struggle. I'm not looking for answers but data to assist me in make informed decisions. Am I crazy?