Here’s to supporting Black journalists across the nation! On May 13, Gayle King — co-host of CBS This Morning — announced that ViacomCBS will provide scholarships to future journalists in an effort to increase the representation of Black journalists in newsrooms across the country, according to a press release provided to AfroTech. The University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School of Communication and ViacomCBS have joined forces to make things happen for future Black journalists that want to further their education within the field. The ViacomCBS HBCU Diversity in Journalism Scholarship will cover yearly tuition costs for graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to enroll in one of USC Annenberg’s journalism master’s programs. In an announcement during USC Annenberg’s virtual celebration for its Class of 2021, King revealed the plans of the new scholarship and spoke to ViacomCBS’s commitment to not only supporting and uplifting the next...

Although in no rush to become a billionaire, 50 Cent is following Tyler Perry’s blueprint. Both entrepreneurs have their own studios, which house their current and future projects and create jobs that benefit the surrounding communities and beyond. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Perry, a self-made billionaire, relied on his earnings to fund a 330-acre studio in Atlanta, GA, which opened its doors in 2008. “That’s why ‘Sistas,’ ‘The Oval,’ ‘Ruthless,’ and ‘Zatima’ — soon to come — All these shows on BET are doing so well, because I had us,” Perry said during Invest Fest 2023. “So, I haven’t been in a position where I’ve had to use private equity or money like that.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyler Perry Studios (@tylerperrystudios) Today, Tyler Perry Studios grants him greater creative freedoms through its built-in features that include 12 sound stages — available to rent — and various staged sets such as baseball fields, a chapel, a bank, a county jail, a...

Terzel Ron understands that if nothing else, the entertainment industry is volatile. So, after he graduated from New York University in 2018, he spent nine months looking for a job — only to finally land a job as a production assistant at ViacomCBS. Thanks to that job, he was able to pay off $5,000 in student loans — but according to CNBC, he wanted more. In 2021, he got a job at a “large television network” where he makes $110,000 per year. Terzel Ron subsequently got a second part-time job, where he makes an additional $40,000 per year, for a grand total of $150,000 per year. And, he says, it was imperative to save — and invest — as much of it as he could. “I invest most of what I make and try to forget the amount of money in my accounts. Jobs come and go, and when they go, the only thing left to show for it is the amount of money you have saved and invested from it,” he said to the outlet. What’s more, Terzel Ron said he works a lot, too. He told CNBC that he works seven days a...

John Thompson III is entering a different league as investing in sports seems to be a blueprint to success. Coming from a sports background himself, the former Georgetown basketball coach is now a minority-owner in the American Cornhole League (ACL). The ACL’s popularity is picking up speed and its impressive growth caught his interest to invest. In his CNBC interview, Thompson III claims that “the league is positioned to increase revenue over this decade.” “You kind of chuckle when you think about it,” Thompson III told CNBC. “But as you dive in and do the research, cornhole is one of the fastest-growing activities in the world. Is it a risk? Absolutely. But all investments are a risk. I feel strongly about the management team that’s we’re putting together and the team already in place.” Along with Thompson, Asland Capital Partners CEO James Simmons III also invested in the first funding round for the ACL and their investments will go toward the sport’s overall expansion. According...

Creator of “Black-ish” Kenya Barris is expanding his Hollywood profile to the music business with a new entertainment company. According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), the famed writer and producer has announced the launch of Khalabo Music — a joint venture with Interscope Records that already has a stacked roster of fresh, talented artists. As an extension of his production company, Khalabo Ink Society, Barris is looking at new ways he can work his signed artists into other areas of his entertainment hub. “Kenya touches people in so many different ways and he wants music to be part of that experience, so the conversation is not just about, ‘Let me find this one artist and make the best record,'” Interscope Geffen A&M Records vice chairman Steve Berman told THR. “He wants to find the artists and be able to plug music into his universe in many different ways. It’s the complete picture with him.” Per Berman’s interview with the outlet — as part of Barris’ latest cover story — the...

In honor of Black History Month, we here at AfroTech, wish to recognize the efforts of Black scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs. Throughout history, Black American accomplishments have revolutionized not only our country but the world at large. While there are many more, here are 28 Black pioneers in science, technology, and business today you should know about: Asmau Ahmed, Founder of PlumPerfect     View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Next IT Girl (@thenextitgirl_) Asmau Ahmed is a Senior Strategist that has led corporate strategy and digital innovation for established and emergent organizations in a number of industries including financial services, and consumer retail.  She thrives on identifying and growing (digital) companies that have the power to transform the way everyday people do everyday things. With experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial leadership, she has honed her skills in assessing the business viability and risk profile and in...

More Black women are climbing the ranks of leadership in the business world. This past Wednesday, Debra L. Lee — former chairman and CEO of cable network channel BET — joined the board of directors at the Procter & Gamble (P&G) — a multinational consumer goods company, Black Enterprise reports . “We are delighted to welcome Debra to the board,” said P&G Chairman, President and CEO David Taylor in a news release . “She has distinguished herself as a leader in the media industry for more than 30 years and brings broad, deep knowledge ranging from media strategy and programming to corporate risk oversight.” He added: “Her experience, expertise and guidance will further strengthen our efforts to better serve consumers and a broad range of stakeholders. We look forward to her contributions.” Lee is a seasoned executive in the media business having served in numerous C-suite roles at BET Networks — a media and entertainment subsidiary of ViacomCBS –throughout her 30-year tenure. She...