Watch: Reporting While Black
Michael Harriot, Joy Reid, Jason Johnson and Karen Attiah live at Howard University
The Journalism Sequence at Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications hosts a timely installment of the Reporting While Black series, convening key journalists of our time: Joy Reid, Michael Harriot, Jason Johnson, and Karen Attiah for a public conversation on the future of journalism, independence, and truth-telling in a rapidly shifting media landscape.
At the forefront of this discussion is a critical question reshaping the industry: how Black journalists are using platforms like Substack and other direct-to-audience models to produce independent, immersive journalism outside of traditional newsroom constraints. This conversation will use that shift as an entry point to examine broader issues of power, ownership, editorial freedom, audience trust, and the economic realities of sustaining impactful reporting.
Drawing from their work across television, digital media, academia, and global reporting, panelists will reflect on what it means to report on race, politics, and democracy at a time of heightened political polarization, attacks on the press, and increasing restrictions on how history and identity are covered. They will also explore how Black journalists navigate institutional pressures while maintaining accountability, cultural clarity, and a commitment to the communities they serve.
The panel will be joined by Howard University student journalists Zoe Cummings and Myla Roundy, who will help ground the conversation in the experiences and aspirations of the next generation of reporters. Their participation underscores the event’s focus on mentorship, pipeline-building, and preparing emerging journalists to enter, and reshape, an evolving media ecosystem.
As part of Howard University’s broader commitment to journalistic excellence and public engagement, the Reporting While Black series creates a space where scholarship, professional practice, and lived experience intersect. This event offers a vital opportunity for students, faculty, and the wider community to engage with the ethical, professional, and political stakes of journalism today, while exploring new models for telling stories with depth, independence, and impact.
Watch the live broadcast here: