"Black in the Newsroom" is an award-winning 15-minute documentary film exploring the story of Elizabeth Montgomery, a talented journalist who lands her dream job in a major U.S. newsroom—but ends up fighting a deep-rooted system of harm.

"Black in the Newsroom" is an award-winning 15-minute documentary film exploring the story of Elizabeth Montgomery, a talented journalist who lands her dream job in a major U.S. newsroom—but ends up fighting a deep-rooted system of harm.

Play Video

Upcoming Screenings

Join the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University, San Diego Association of Black Journalists and Online News Association for a special screening and panel discussion. Here’s the details:

When: Thursday, Feb. 23  at 6:30-8:30 pm PST
Where: San Diego State Theater 
Register to attend here. Seating is limited!

There is a media landscape in 2070 where equity, liberation, and freedom is real across all platforms and modalities of storytelling and information gathering. To get there, we’ll have to leave toxic newsrooms behind. Join us for a viewing and discussion of “Black in the Newsroom,” a mini-documentary film in which journalist Elizabeth Montgomery’s story illustrates the reality of structural media harm.

February 21-25 of 2023 in downtown Phoenix, INDIE FILM FEST becomes the ultimate gathering of creative storytellers and audiences eager for new voices and fresh perspectives. Our 5th annual visual extravaganza includes dramatic and documentary features, short films, music videos, and multimedia installations by artists from all over the world.  

‘Black in the Newsroom’ will screen on opening night:
• Feb. 21, 2023
• 7:00 pm
• The Churchill in downtown Phoenix
• Purchase tickets and learn more at indiefilmfest.com

Join the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University for a screening of Black in the Newsroom and a discussion with journalists of color from New Jersey’s local news ecosystem.

• Feb. 16, 2023
• 6-7:30 pm
• Register now via Eventbrite 

The Chandler International Film Festival (CIFF) will be showcasing over 120 films submitted from all over the world January 21-29, 2023, in Chandler, Arizona. The festival is honored to partner with the City of Chandler in connection with the city’s 26th annual Multicultural Festival. 

Screening Event: Best Documentary Short Films
(including ‘Black in the Newsroom’)
• Sun., Jan. 29, 2023
• 2:00pm-3:50pm
• LOOK Dine-In Cinemas Chandler
• Buy tickets to this screening now via Eventbrite
• Learn more at the official festival website

The Denton Black Film Festival (DBFF) in its 9th year is an inclusive, Black cultural experience with film at its heart, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Screening: ‘Slices of Being Black’
(Black in the Newsroom will be shown within this block of folks)
• Friday, January 27
• 4:30 – 6:30 PM
• Alamo Drafthouse Theater 8
• Purchase tickets at dentonbff.com

Faculty and scholars within the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania will host a private screening of ‘Black In the Newsroom’ on Nov. 15. 

Register now: link

Black in the Newsroom is an official selection of the Peachtree Village International Film Festival which takes place Nov. 3-6 in at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency.

Created in 2006, PVIFF attracts 3,000+ people each year from around the world. Their motto is “It Takes A Village.” 

‘Black In the Newsroom’ will screen at 10:30 am on Sat., Nov. 5 along with many other exciting short films. 

Purchase your Early Bird tickets now.

The 21st Urban Mediamakers Film Festival (UMFF) is October 10-23, 2022, happening virtually and in-person in Gwinnett County with award-winning content from an international group of creatives competing for awards! Learn More Get Tickets Now at umff.com.

Media 2070 will present a virtual screening of ‘Black In the Newsroom’ in partnership with  award-winning journalism instructor Allissa V. Richardson, founder of the new Charlotta Bass Journalism & Justice Lab.

“Black in the Newsroom” is an official selection of the 3rd Annual Detroit Black Film Festival! Join us for our screening on Sat., Sept. 24 at 12 noon at the The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Get your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-3rd-annual-detroit-black-film-festival-tickets-231346251867

Emancipation Arts invites the community to “Naming Names” – A Broader Discussion about  the trajectory of Black History in Arizona.

• Sat., Sept. 3, 2022 at 3–5 pm

• In-person at Phoenix Center for the Arts Theatre (3rd Street & Moreland in Phoenix, AZ)

• This event includes a screening of the documentary film short “Black in the Newsroom” followed by a presentation about the first Black woman to work for the Arizona Republic.

• Tickets available now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-in-the-newsroom-screening-naming-names-discussion-tickets-400461660607

Free Resources

Media 2070: An Invitation to Dream Up Media Reparations

This essay reveals the critical role that trafficking of enslaved Africans played in making our nation’s earliest media financially viable. The piece traces this history to the present day, when deregulation has resulted in very few Black owners of traditional media, and racist algorithms amplify the voices of white supremacists across online platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The essay critiques corporate media’s ongoing lack of accountability or commitment to fundamental change while inviting readers to join Media 2070’s national conversation to help reconcile the history of media racism with the need to imagine and create the changes necessary to right these wrongs.

Have you watched the film or hosted a screening? Tell us your thoughts.

Sign up for updates on the movement for media reparations.

Sign up for updates on the movement for media reparations

© 2023 Free Press. All rights reserved | Privacy and copyright