Violent and systemic voter suppression has kept communities of color from the voting booth. But perhaps as generations turn to more innovative platforms than years past, voter suppression has taken up a more covert form. 

The greater accessibility and reach of today’s communication methods allow someone aiming to keep voters from the polls the greater means to do so. Even a casual post on the Internet today can accidentally bring the voter turnout down. A comment by a human-like bot might tell a lie about a candidate. A podcast could exclaim that elections are pointless and all candidates are the same. Or video from a classmate from high school could portray the length of a polling center line. Anti-voting influencers make the polls seem mundane, tedious, and ineffective to those able to cast ballots. 

Black Voters Matter Fund’s CLIFF ALBRIGHT and Scripps News national news and disinformation correspondent KADIA TUBMAN join The Sidebar by NYABJ’s KATHRYN JONES to discuss the media actors telling Americans to skip the voting booth.

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

Anti-Voting Influencers: Discouragement and Disinformation Pulling Voters from the Polls

In this episode of The Sidebar by NYABJ, we go back to our Media Mavericks panel from last December, holding an enlightening discussion on pursuing freelancing opportunities in media and public relations.  

The panel, consisting of Vice President of Development & Original Production, Scripted ASHLEY MCFARLIN, established hip-hop publicist BEVERLY PAIGE, and freelance communications consultant GABRIELLE PICKENS, was  moderated by NYABJ President BONITA SOSTRE, with a special introduction by chapter Member-at-Large CYNTHIA HORNER (a media maverick in her own right). Listen in and get inspired to blaze your own path in the wide world of media!

(NOTE: This was recorded on December 3, 2024)

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

LIVE: Media Mavericks - Unlocking Freelance Opportunities in TV and Public Relations

Aside from Princess Tiana in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” little Black girls rarely ever get to see princesses that look like them—and princess stories from the Caribbean are rarer still. So when ELDONIE MASON’s 5-year-old niece told her she couldn’t be a princess because they were white with long hair, Mason got to work writing a book with a beautiful Black girl as a princess. 

The result is “The Adventures of Princess Anyah of Antibarba: The Fishing Expedition” and Sidebar host KIZZY COX spoke with Mason, who’s originally from Antigua, about the importance of telling Caribbean stories, how her company Predestined Media is aiming to bring more Caribbean content to the forefront and how she’s balancing her entrepreneurial ventures with her full-time career as a lawyer in entertainment, business, fashion and estate planning. Her hard work has yielded numerous accolades including the 2025 Caribbean Boss Lady Award from Carib Biz Network for her vision and positive impact in her field.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Mason’s dedication to Caribbean culture, Black representation and Black financial literacy serves as an inspiring example of the myriad ways women effect change.

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

The Princess Little Black Girls Deserve: A Conversation with Eldonie Mason

We're dropping an extra special episode of "The Sidebar by NYABJ" this week, featuring students from our annual First Take program. Since 1988, First Take is our seven-week program for high schoolers across the New York City Metro Area to introduce them to various aspects and careers in journalism.

Recorded on the final day of the program, the students reflect on what they learned throughout the experience.

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

The First Take Takeover Part 3!

Hair has become a political statement in a society that designates what's professional, appropriate, and beautiful. Decades show patterns of hair discrimination in workplaces and schools, especially when it comes to Black and Brown individuals. As policy advocates shed light on hair as a civil rights issue through legislation, media professionals take on the industry to expand the definition of "good hair." 

THE SIDEBAR BY NYABJ producer KATHRYN JONES speaks to the CROWN Coalition co-creator DR. ADJOA B. ASAMOAH, KSLA chief investigative reporter and anchor ASHLEY GRAHAM, marketing and content strategist SAMANTHA RODRIGUEZ-LAMPKINS, and beauty editor and branded content expert JAZMINE A. ORTIZ.

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

Untangling Media and Society's Policing of Black and Brown Hair

In this episode of The Sidebar by NYABJ, we go back to our March 2025 panel and uncover the world of sports journalism. New York Association of Black Journalists President BONITA SOSTRE is joined by panelists from all corners of CBS Sports: On-Air Reporter KEIANA MARTIN, Senior Director of CBS Sports' Race & Culture Unit DAVID CUMMINGS, CBSSports.com Basketball Writer JASMYN WIMBISH, and Associate Director/Associate Producer JUSTIN HALEY.

Listen in for a candid discussion insight one of the industry's leading sports outlets, filled with stories from the arenas, stadiums, and ballparks near and far that captured in the newsrooms and studios of CBS Sports. 

(Note: This episode was recorded on March 4th, 2025)

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

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Please join us for the 4th Annual NYABJ Juneteenth Gala and Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 19th from 6-9pm at the ILA Penthouse and Rooftop Garden. The event will be hosted by CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and NBC 4 New York's Kay Angram. Get ready to mingle with fellow journalists, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and witness the honoring of outstanding members in the industry.  Tickets are on sale at www.nyabj.org, with proceeds benefitting our First Take program. Don't miss out on this unforgettable evening!

LIVE: Behind the Scenes of Sports Journalism

In this powerful episode of The Sidebar by NYABJ, we dive into the realities of balancing motherhood and journalism. Moderated by The Sidebar's LISA DURDEN, this conversation goes beyond headlines and deadlines to explore the joys, challenges, and lived experiences of mothers who are also journalists, producers, and storytellers.

Joining the discussion is ABC News Senior Producer TAIGI SMITH, NBC 4 New York Reporter TRACIE STRAHAN, and journalist and book collaborator JEANNINE AMBER. Together, they unpack everything from their joyous journeys to motherhood to the emotional toll of postpartum depression. These phenomenal women drop gems, offer encouraging words of advice, and share real-world tips and takeaways for navigating both the newsroom and nursery.

Whether you're a working mom, aspiring journalist, or simply curious about how motherhood fuels media-making, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a reminder that our stories matter—because we’re shaping how our communities stay informed, empowered, and inspired.

(Note: This episode was recorded on May 6th, 2025)

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

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Please join us for the 4th Annual NYABJ Juneteenth Gala and Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 19th from 6-9pm at the ILA Penthouse and Rooftop Garden. The event will be hosted by CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and NBC 4 New York's Kay Angram. Get ready to mingle with fellow journalists, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and witness the honoring of outstanding members in the industry.  Tickets are on sale at www.nyabj.org, with proceeds benefitting our First Take program. Don't miss out on this unforgettable evening!

LIVE: Balancing Motherhood and Journalism

The Sidebar by NYABJ host JEWEL BENTON sits down with TAMARA PAYNE, co-author of the National Book Award-winning biography "The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X". As we commemorate the 100th birthday of Malcolm X, we also pay tribute to Les Payne—Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, co-founder of the National Association of Black Journalists, and Tamara’s late father.

Payne shares her journey of completing the monumental biography following her father's passing, and reflects on the intertwined legacies of Malcolm X and Les Payne. Don’t miss this intimate conversation about journalism, legacy, and the enduring impact of two visionary Black men.

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

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Please join us for the 4th Annual NYABJ Juneteenth Gala and Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 19th from 6-9pm at the ILA Penthouse and Rooftop Garden. The event will be hosted by CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and NBC 4 New York's Kay Angram. Get ready to mingle with fellow journalists, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and witness the honoring of outstanding members in the industry. Tickets are on sale at www.nyabj.org, with proceeds benefitting our First Take program. Don't miss out on this unforgettable evening!

Malcolm X at 100: Discussing Legacy with Tamara Payne

Audacious, trailblazer stories need enterprising visionaries to tell them. This tie between compelling film and skillful director seamlessly weave together in the novel, five-part, Disney+ docuseries, “Harlem Ice.” Harlem Ice is the delightfully inspiring, feel-good film chronicling the lives of a bevy of black and brown teen girl ice skaters of the “Figure Skating in Harlem” organization. Brooklyn-based documentarian SAMANTHA KNOWLES is the young, African American, award winning, filmmaker phenom appointed to craft this first-of-its-kind adventure. 

The Sidebar by NYABJ's SONJA D. GRACY talks with Knowles, a DOC NYC 40 Under 40 List 2023 and “NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Directing in A Documentary Series" recipient, about her work on the Harlem Ice film co-produced by Oscar-winning film director Ron Howard and ABC TV broadcaster Robin Roberts. In this podcast, Knowles shares her vision for the docuseries' creative arc that propels the figure skating organization’s ice access beginnings to its ice-skater mentorships of others across the globe. Knowles also divulges why she squarely centers her art on profiling the plight and progress of African Americans.

EDITOR'S NOTE: To protect the identities of the young cast members of the documentary, parts of their names have been blanked out.

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

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Please join us for the 4th Annual NYABJ Juneteenth Gala and Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 19th from 6-9pm at the ILA Penthouse and Rooftop Garden. The event will be hosted by CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and NBC 4 New York's Kay Angram. Get ready to mingle with fellow journalists, enjoy delicious food and drinks, and witness the honoring of outstanding members in the industry. Tickets are on sale at www.nyabj.org, with proceeds benefitting our First Take program. Don't miss out on this unforgettable evening!

Filmmaker Samantha Knowles on "Harlem Ice"

June is Black Music Month and as a special treat, "The Sidebar by NYABJ" is releasing not one, but two extended episodes featuring those who have made their impact on Black music. 

To start, The Sidebar's SONJA D. GRACY has an intensive interview with music management veteran MATHEW KNOWLES (1:02). While many know him as the father of acclaimed singers Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles and his work managing Destiny's Child, Gracy goes in-depth with Knowles' other as impactful milestones, which include being the founder of Music World Entertainment amongst other music and entertainment business ventures and as a visiting professor teaching courses on the entertainment industry at a number of colleges and universities.

In addition, The Sidebar's LISA DURDEN hosts a candid conversation with the multi-talented, platinum-selling artist SYLEENA JOHNSON (50:20). In an interview that will no doubt leave you inspired, Johnson opens up about her evolution as a singer, songwriter, TV host, wellness advocate, and film producer, and provides insight about owning your artistry, navigating industry challenges, and staying grounded in your purpose. She also shares encouraging words for rising artists and gives insider tips on longevity in the business.

Remember that if you liked what you heard, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss Part II, which will be released on July 3rd!

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The opinions heard in this episode belong to the individuals who made them and not to NYABJ. Music by HoliznaRAPS. For more information on the New York Association of Black Journalists, please visit our website at www.nyabj.org.

Black Music Month Part I Feat. Mathew Knowles and Syleena Johnson

The Sidebar by NYABJ is a show about the world of media, through the lens of Black media-makers. 

Each episode will feature honest conversations with journalists, content creators, advocates, trailblazers  and new voices alike - talking about what it really takes to keep our communities informed and engaged. 

Subscribe now to join us as we look behind the figurative curtain for insights - straight from the source. 

The Sidebar is a production of the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ), the Greater New York chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the world’s largest organization for journalists of color. 

For more information, visit www.nyabj.org.