By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire Senior Nationwide Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia
The Rev. Mark Thompson’s illustrious and groundbreaking journalism profession, which discovered its roots within the Black Press of America almost 40 years in the past, has come full circle as he assumes a pivotal management function with the Nationwide Newspaper Publishers Affiliation (NNPA).
From his early days as a journalist with the historic AFRO newspaper in Washington, D.C., below the mentorship of the legendary Frances L. Murphy II, to trailblazing moments as the primary speak present host on XM Satellite tv for pc Radio, Thompson has persistently championed the reason for African American-owned media. Now, in his function as the brand new NNPA World Digital Transformation Director, he’s poised to drive a brand new period of innovation, guiding member publishers by the intricate panorama of digital transformation and content material distribution.
“After severe contemplation and after a evaluate of the capabilities of greater than 75 others who inquired in regards to the job, not solely did Mark’s resume and expertise rise to the highest within the digital house, however in his longevity of advocating the ability and impression of the Black Press of America, this was not a tough determination,” acknowledged NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
“In actual fact,” Dr. Chavis continued, “it was providential. We stay up for working as a crew, and I’m very honored to ask Mark to affix the NNPA’s nationwide employees as a full-time World Digital Transformation Director. Along with Mark’s expertise in America, he additionally has a world perspective, significantly within the African diaspora, the place the content material produced and distributed by the Black Press of America may also, along with his help, have prolonged attain and impression for communities of shade all through the world because the NNPA continues to be probably the most revered, very important, and trusted voice of Black America.”
At the moment a political, human rights, and breaking information podcast host, Thompson’s work in digital social media gained his “Make It Plain” recognition amongst Greatest Civil Rights Podcasts, Greatest Human Rights Podcasts, Greatest Podcasts About Social Justice, and Greatest Broadcast Tv Podcasts in 2021.
A 40-year veteran on the frontlines of the continued battle of African People and others, the 104th Annual NAACP Conference in Orlando in 2013 awarded Thompson “For 25 years of crusading journalism and excellent management in furthering the work of civil and human rights.” He not solely has been part of each vital social justice motion and occasion over the previous 40 years, however he has additionally been a radio broadcaster and journalist for over three many years and has spent over ten years as a nationwide community tv commentator.
“On this pivotal time because it pertains to the Black Press of America, we’d like new blood and new imaginative and prescient that will take us to greater heights which embrace making an enormous footprint within the digital transformation of Black-owned media,” NNPA Nationwide Chairman and Westside Gazette Writer Bobby Henry added. “Mark has a confirmed monitor document in his endeavors of reaching success in bringing Black-owned media to the forefront. We’re positioned on the proper time the place a recent enterprise would complement the 197 years of the wealthy historical past of the Black Press. Digital transformation is on the horizon for all media, and that is particularly of profit to Black-owned media. The Black Press is right here to remain and to be complemented by our digital platforms will solely improve our presence.”
Amongst Thompson’s many educational {and professional} achievements, he graduated from the College of the District of Columbia with a bachelor’s diploma in mass media journalism lengthy earlier than the arrival of the web and social media, a testomony to his foresight within the ever-evolving journalism world. He mentioned his mandate with NNPA extends past technical elements, encompassing a strategic strategy to content material distribution that emphasizes income era.
“As media evolves, we’ve all needed to alter. I realized the significance of digital and social media at the least ten years in the past and jumped proper in when others had been resistant,” Thompson asserted. “When ‘Make It Plain’ was on Sirius XM, I pioneered quite a lot of digital and social media. Some folks didn’t prefer it; just some had been able to embrace going into social media. Nevertheless, we’ve all discovered one thing critically essential: reaching a bigger viewers as a result of extra info is consumed by way of social media, and it’s an ever-growing and ever-standing market to succeed in our viewers. We should maintain ourselves on the heartbeat of that and make our publications increasingly accessible digitally and on social media. That’s essential to the longer term and survival of the African American print media.”
Thompson famous that he and Chavis started the “Meet the Black Press” section on his “Make It Plain” present some years in the past and mentioned the significance of that element was once more amplified on the time of his NNPA rent.
“With out realizing it, this second for the NNPA is timelier than we could have thought,” Thompson insisted. “On the very weekend that ‘Meet the Press’ has given a platform to somebody (GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York) who questioned the legitimacy of the previous election and referred to as insurrectionists hostages, reveals how relative and well timed it’s to fulfill the Black Press not simply as a section, however to fulfill the Black Press as a lifestyle going ahead.”
Hiring Thompson on this function underscores the NNPA’s dedication to fortifying the 250 African American-owned newspapers and media firms inside its membership, Chavis exclaimed.
Chavis and Thompson proclaimed that the NNPA Digital Community is now positioned as probably the most distinguished African American-owned digital community in America, with an final purpose of world dominance in turning into probably the most influential, partaking, and impactful digital information and content material distribution community globally.
“Everybody is aware of in regards to the downsizing and contraction of print newspapers,” Thompson mentioned. “What the NNPA represents is what actually boils right down to is greater than 200 bureaus, unbiased to some extent, however every native Black-owned newspaper has an essential function in letting the world know what’s occurring in native communities. The extra we work collectively and promote that, the extra it units NNPA aside as a result of there are so few main print media have organizations of that measurement and depth anymore.”
Already, in a testomony to the NNPA’s dedication to innovation, strategic collaborations have been cast with key gamers such because the Google Information Initiative (GNI), the US Black Chambers of Commerce, the Nationwide Affiliation of Black-Owned Broadcasters, the NAACP, and the Nationwide City League. Chavis mentioned these partnerships are designed to mixture and disseminate digital content material, solidifying the NNPA’s place as a frontrunner within the digital realm.
“With NNPA, journalism continues to be happening, not sensationalism,” Thompson continued. “We’re seeing a lot of the mainstream click-bait materials. Because the Black Press, we should proceed to be the ethical aware and ethical authority of goal journalism. That’s most essential as we set the instance to coach the subsequent era of journalists as a result of we wish Black college students impressed.”
Chavis cautioned that, since 1827, when Freedom’s Journal was first revealed, there have been naysayers and turncoats which have tried unsuccessfully to silence the Black Press.
“I see clearly that 2024 will likely be one other yr of progress and growth for the NNPA and the Black Press of America,” he mentioned. “The acquisition of Mark Thompson because the World Digital Transformation Director will enormously improve not solely what we do in 2024 within the digital and print house, but in addition as we strategy the 2 hundredth anniversary of the Black Press of America in 2027, we’re all grateful that Mark Thompson has agreed to affix the NNPA for this very important and transformational goal.”
