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 position with the Nationwide Newspaper Publishers Affiliation (NNPA).
From his early days as a journalist with the historic AFRO newspaper in Washington, D.C., beneath the mentorship of the legendary Frances L. Murphy II, to trailblazing moments as the primary discuss present host on XM Satellite tv for pc Radio, Thompson has constantly championed the reason for African American-owned media. Now, in his position as the brand new NNPA International Digital Transformation Director, he’s poised to drive a brand new period of innovation, guiding member publishers by way of the intricate panorama of digital transformation and content material distribution.
“After critical contemplation and after a evaluation of the capabilities of greater than 75 others who inquired concerning the job, not solely did Mark’s resume and expertise rise to the highest within the digital area, however in his longevity of advocating the ability and affect of the Black Press of America, this was not a troublesome resolution,” acknowledged NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.
“In reality,” Dr. Chavis continued, “it was providential. We stay up for working as a staff, and I’m very honored to ask Mark to affix the NNPA’s nationwide employees as a full-time International Digital Transformation Director. Along with Mark’s expertise in America, he additionally has a global perspective, notably within the African diaspora, the place the content material produced and distributed by the Black Press of America may also, together with his help, have prolonged attain and affect for communities of shade all through the world because the NNPA continues to be essentially 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 received 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 continuing wrestle 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 important social justice motion and occasion over the previous 40 years, however he has additionally been a radio broadcaster and journalist for over three a long time 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 may take us to greater heights which embody 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 observe 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 contemporary endeavor 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 tutorial {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 stated his mandate with NNPA extends past technical elements, encompassing a strategic strategy to content material distribution that emphasizes income technology.
“As media evolves, we’ve all needed to alter. I realized the significance of digital and social media no less than 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 a whole 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 data is consumed through social media, and it’s an ever-growing and ever-standing market to succeed in our viewers. We should hold ourselves on the heart beat of that and make our publications increasingly more 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” phase on his “Make It Plain” present some years in the past and stated the significance of that part was once more amplified on the time of his NNPA rent.
“With out realizing it, this second for the NNPA is timelier than we might 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 satisfy the Black Press not simply as a phase, however to satisfy the Black Press as a lifestyle going ahead.”
Hiring Thompson on this position 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 essentially the most outstanding African American-owned digital community in America, with an final aim of world dominance in turning into essentially the most influential, partaking, and impactful digital information and content material distribution community globally.
“Everybody is aware of concerning the downsizing and contraction of print newspapers,” Thompson stated. “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 position 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 dimension and depth anymore.”
Already, in a testomony to the NNPA’s dedication to innovation, strategic collaborations have been solid 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 stated 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 going down, 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 acutely aware and ethical authority of goal journalism. That’s most essential as we set the instance to coach the following technology 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 12 months of development and growth for the NNPA and the Black Press of America,” he stated. “The acquisition of Mark Thompson because the International Digital Transformation Director will enormously improve not solely what we do in 2024 within the digital and print area, but additionally as we strategy the two 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.”
