Join us Saturday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m. PT for our third annual Black Women in Media Discussion. We will be joined by Shani Hilton of the Los Angeles Times, Mimi Brown of Fox LA, Anita Bennett of the Black News Channel and Urban Hollywood 411, and Dr. Tykeia N. Robinson, co-host of the Gettin’ Grown podcast. Returning for the second year as moderator is NABJLA Boardmember Shar Jossell.
Do note that registering for the event does not guarantee entrance. Only the first 100 registered people who login day-of will gain access to the Zoom room. All others can stream the event live on our NABJLA Facebook page.
More about our panelists:
Anita Bennett
Anita Bennett is the Los Angeles correspondent for the Black News Channel. She is also the founder of entertainment website urbanhollywood411.com.
An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Anita has spent years covering news and entertainment in Los Angeles, including as a contributing editor Deadline.com, as senior editor of the Los Angeles Daily News, and as deputy editor and on-camera host at TheWrap. Prior to moving into entertainment coverage, Anita was a news reporter for L.A. Cityview 35 in Los Angeles.
Anita graduated cum laude from Howard University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelors Degree in Communications. She is bilingual after having studied Spanish in Spain as a Fulbright Scholar. In 2018, she founded the website Urban Hollywood 411, to highlight African Americans in entertainment.
Mimi Brown
Mimi Brown is the host of FoxLA's Culture Conversations, a digital show launched by the station in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. She interviews nationally recognized lawmakers, activists, and others working to bring equality and racial justice to our country.
Mimi also works on FOX 11's signature show, Good Day LA, producing daily segments highlighting the latest in local and national news, entertainment, fashion, and fitness.
Mimi began her journalism career 14 years ago as a red carpet reporter for US Weekly Magazine, where she covered the Oscars, the Grammys and movie premieres, interviewing celebrities whose names you know. Mimi is also the host of the podcast, "Becoming Dope with Mimi Brown."
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Howard University and a Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from American University.
Mimi currently volunteers with several local community groups, mentoring young people and offering career advice. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Shani Hilton
Shani O. Hilton joined the Los Angeles Times as deputy managing editor in June 2019. Previously, she was at BuzzFeed News in New York City for six years, where she worked as vice president of news and programming, executive editor and deputy editor-in-chief. She oversaw the company’s news show programming and led efforts to diversify BuzzFeed News revenue through shows with a focus on live video, including “AM to DM” on Twitter and the documentary series “Follow This” on Netflix.
Hilton’s role also included structuring the news team, running special projects and managing a U.S. news staff of more than 200 award-winning journalists. She worked as an editor and oversaw tech, politics, national, entertainment and business coverage.
Prior to working at BuzzFeed News, Hilton was an editor and reporter at outlets including NBC Washington, Washington City Paper and the Center for American Progress. She grew up in Fontana and Stockton and studied journalism at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Tykeia N. Robinson, Ph.D.
Tykeia N. Robinson, Ph.D., aka “Dr. Keia” is the Assistant Director of Research and Policy in the Office of Undergraduate STEM Education at the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Her current work focuses on empowering institutional leaders to 1) understand & interrogate existing organizational challenges and disparities, and 2) craft customized strategic initiatives that meet organizational needs with excellence and equity. Dr. Keia also co-hosts the Gettin’ Grown podcast on the Loud Speakers Network, a show about navigating the transitions of adulting as young Black millennials. Gettin' Grown recently celebrated over 8.5 million listens and downloads since its inception in 2017. Tykeia earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Maryland College Park and is also the founder of "TeamTypingFast" (TTF), an online community of practice that prioritizes the wellness, success, and productivity of Black women academics, corporate professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Shar Jossell (Moderator)
Shar Jossell is a media personality, journalist, and writer. She focuses on pop culture reporting and writes in the intersections of trans identities, race, and entertainment. Shar has previously served as a panelist on AfterbuzzTV & Black Hollywood Live, quickly becoming one of their most sought after personalities. She was named to Obvious Magazine's inaugural Visionaries list in 2020.
Most recently, she has guest co-hosted Crooked Media's "Keep It" podcast (Ira Madison III, Louis Virtel, Aida Osman), and has been a guest pundit on Luminary's "Hear To Slay" (Roxane Gay, Tressie McMillan-Cottom), and Maximum Fun's "FANTI" (Tre'vell Anderson, Jarrett Hill).
Shar has been featured on Buzzfeed, HuffPost, TMZ, Into, FOX Soul, That Grape Juice, and The Wrap--just to name a few. She's currently a rotating guest co-host on Channel Q Radio (Radio.com) and her show, the "Kiss & Tell Radio" podcast, available everywhere. Her bylines include ZORA, Bold Culture, & THEM.