The importance of representation within media publications is the reason why we’ve seen so many outlets successfully flourish for catering to  underrepresented audiences. For AMAKA Studio — a brand new digital media publisher that recently launched on International Women’s Day — its sole mission is dedicated to celebrating stories centered around Pan-African womanhood and those across the diaspora. As a multimedia platform, AMAKA Studio aims to break new ground for African women that provides a space where their culturally-relevant experiences, needs, and interests are being amplified for the world to see from the perspectives of women of their communities. With Nigerian-American journalist and media maven Ivie Ani leading the publication as editor-in-chief, the platform has an overarching goal to bridge the gap between North and Sub-Saharan Africa and expand the media landscape for African women empowerment. Photo Credit: Robert Mayer In this new role, Ani brings with her years of...

There have been a lot of firsts for Black leaders in high places this year, and former New York Times journalist Dana Canedy is joining the bunch making her own history in the publishing world. Major publishing company Simon & Schuster has named the Pulitzer Prize-winning author as their new senior vice president and publisher, making her the first Black publisher at the imprint, Deadline reports . “I am confident that as our new publisher, Dana can deepen our strengths while expanding our field of vision, combining broad editorial expertise with hands-on management skill and the proven ability to effect strategic change,” said Simon & Schuster president and CEO Jonathan Karp in a statement. Canedy expressed her excitement for her new position stating: “I look forward to leading the storied Simon & Schuster flagship imprint, a publishing powerhouse that has long produced some of the most important and impactful books in our culture. We have an incredible legacy on which to build,...