“Embracing the Digital Renaissance” the Urban New Media Panel at the 4th Annual BEYOND BROADCAST Symposium At USCThe USC Annenberg School For Communication is the place to be June 4 as a distinguished panel of black leaders discuss blogs, social networks, mobile applications and how technology is changing how people of color communicate. Read the bios of the folks who are at the forefront of the new tech movement.
Against the backdrop of the 2008 nationally historic election, Los Angeles County voters made their own mark on history by electing the Honorable Mark Ridley-Thomas the first African America male ever to serve on the County Board of Supervisors.
Prior to his election to the Board representing the 2nd District, Supervisor Ridley-Thomas served the 26th District in the California State Senate, in the state Assembly, and as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. Ridley-Thomas was also Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
KJLH Radio Vice President and General Manager Karen Slade is meeting the business challenges of the largest advertising revenue market with aggressive targets, creative sales strategies and client focused program offerings. During Karen’s tenure, KJLH has been awarded the distinguished George Foster Peabody Award for significant and meritorious achievement, as well as the NAACP Image Award for Humanitarian broadcast efforts.
With a Telecommunications Degree and Masters in Business Administration, Karen Slade also sits on the board of Directors for the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters.
Rev. Mark Whitlock started Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, CA with five members. Today, the church has two thousand members and has recently built a new thirteen thousand square feet sanctuary. Rev. Mark is also CEO of Nehemiah Ministries, a nonprofit economic development corporation for the AME Church, and Director of the Passing the Mantle Program at USC School of Religion’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture.
Rev Whitlock is a strong proponent of using social media tools to effectively communicate with members of his congregation, particularly the youth.
Jasmyne Cannick is a lot of things, but just a blogger she is not. Known for addressing the issues that others can’t or simply won’t, Jasmyne is a LA based critic and commentator who writes about the intersection of pop culture, race, class, and politics as played out in the African-American community.
An award-winning journalist, Jasmyne was selected as one of ESSENCE Magazine’s 25 Women Shaping the World. She currently works as a political consultant on state and local campaigns.
While Rolonda Watts is a versatile actress and television personality, most recognize her as host of the eponymous Rolonda show. With a Masters degree from Columbia University, the former daytime syndicated talk show host also has a burgeoning voiceover career. She is currently the announcer of the courtroom show Judge Joe Brown and the voice of Professor Wiseman in the PBS Kids animated program Curious George.
As CEO/president of Watts Works Productions, the Emmy nominated journalist is looking to launch an online talker in late 2009.
Moderator Kevin Ross is president and CEO of 3BAAS Media Group, an online strategic marketing and branding firm for clients seeking to merge traditional communications tools with new media sensibilities.The former prosecutor and superior court judge also has an extensive background in media, having hosted his own show on Talkradio 790 KABC, as well as a regular legal segment on PBS local affiliate KCET. He currently has the top online Current Events radio program on Internet-based Blogtalkradio.