Black Media Leaders in NJ Call for Truth, Community, and Ownership
BY NATHALY SUQUINAGUA | For AC JosepH Media
NEWARK — Over the weekend, Kenneth Miles, the publisher of the Trenton Journal and author of “From Ink to Impact,” joined Penda Howell, founder, publisher, and CEO of New Jersey Urban News, for a conversation on media engagement, freedom of speech, and Black power.
This being Miles’s first book event, the discussion was hosted by Source of Knowledge, a Newark-based bookstore that has evolved into a community center focused on Black art, Black literature, culture, and community.
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The conversation centered on the importance of black-owned media, highlighting their role in uplifting black communities. Miles shared his journey as a journalist for over 30 years and explained how to build a community platform, and anyone who may be interested in running their own media platform.
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“Right now, it’s so important for us to own our own voice, our own narrative,” Miles said.
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He also spoke on how he often felt discounted in certain neighborhoods and he was looked over.
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“But my goal in creating the Trenton Journal was to highlight some of the positive voices within the community,” Miles said. “We as a people, meaning black people, rightfully have a distrust for the media, because we weren’t always betrayed in a positive light.”
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For Miles, he mentions how much of an importance, it is for people to trust one’s story and how for him living in a community that he covers is really important. In his book, he writes about the mistakes he has made in the past, as well as the importance of the black press.
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As for Howell, one of his main concerns is ensuring that young people, especially those who look up to the leaders in the room, receive accurate information and are told the truth.
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“My direction is pretty clear to my staff. We’re going to highlight those that are often overlooked, that look like us in the community, and those that are doing great things in the community that add value to the quality of life that are to everybody else that lives in the community,” Howell said.
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The conversation touched on the challenges of AI in journalism and the necessity of owning platforms and publishing independently. The speakers also stressed the importance of community events, mentorships, and some of the financial struggles of independent journalism.
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“I think the takeaway for me from this event is the importance of community involvement with local, community based media organizations,” Howell said.
“The necessity of and the importance of allowing the community a window into the work that’s being produced that talks about the community, and allowing them to have a part in the content that’s produced about the community, along with the importance of supporting like-minded businesses.”
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Miles expressed gratitude for Source of Knowledge being a part of the community for many years in downtown Newark.
“I wrote this book to create a roadmap for anyone who’s interested in journalism, media, or creating their own business. And in this book, I write about my experience of being the founder and publisher of the Trenton Journal for the past five years,” Miles said.
“I’m just really grateful for the people who came down to support. I appreciate it.”
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